How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're suffering from many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.
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 indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a concern.
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, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. window doctor near me may increase in frequency as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.
Most people with PVCs are not affected and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain patients.