How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, 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 that usually initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. the window doctor can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used 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. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical exercise. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live a normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.