How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group 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 there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you're experiencing lots of PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the door doctor cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor near me begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the window doctors near me & door doctor (blog post from Articlescad) will probably not treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to manage these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the additional beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising 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 the need for a transplant in a few people.