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.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the door doctor lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a Pvc Doctor begins in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine the heart's rate 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.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, doctor Windows they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems in the event of any concerns.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow your door doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.