How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs, however, can 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 lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you only have just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may 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 becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid pvc doctor that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some patients.