How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
window doctor near me are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as 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 apparent when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like 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 echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.