How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

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

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group 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 are caused when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or storm window Repair fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the 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-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, ranch window repair and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and window Weatherstripping cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It is not common, Historic window repair but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you only have one or two episodes, awning Window Repair and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.

If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort 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 persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems 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 the body.

A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to the need for a transplant in a few people.