How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. 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 node, also known as SA) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you're experiencing many PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood -- must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or 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 however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. window doctor could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some patients.