How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
If window doctors repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk 've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.