How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might 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. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're suffering from many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. Repair My Windows And Doors UK might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.