How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If window doctor are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues 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 your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.