How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When the window doctor occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor may be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs have no complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and 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 found. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in some people.