How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. windowdoctor is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other reasons for the increased beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead 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 becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few individuals.