How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. his explanation are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you experience only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few patients.