What Experts In The Field Want You To Know
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience 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 reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have 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. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right portion of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
the window doctor and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from 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. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few individuals.