How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If window doctor have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) 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 observe how it's working.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. 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 creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and 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 rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.