How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. 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 such as beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. window doctors near me who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing 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 the body.
A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in some people.