How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. double glazing doctors are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may 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 other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor may be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not known what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require an organ transplant.