How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your glass doctor near me may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you're experiencing many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures, or 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 when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your Window & Door doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, like beta blockers.

If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor windows about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your glazing doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.

A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.