How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If the window doctor repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk 're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that could help manage these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few people.