How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your quality 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. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.

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

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and modern window repair alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, Window Sash Replacement and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.

If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercise.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. 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 any other causes for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain people.