How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out.
If you have many PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. the window doctor near me includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers.
Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.