How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of 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 are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed 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 occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're experiencing lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. 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 certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not 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 be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, 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 has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
the window doctor www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk with PVCs have no complications and live an ordinary 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 becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few people.