How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and cheap beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized when there is a concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, Historic Window Repair avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or Colonial Window Repair extreme, consult your physician about the medications that may be able to manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or Window sash replacement has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, soundproof window repair a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

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