How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor may be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. repairmywindowsanddoors can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. 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 all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having 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 has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.