How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. repairmywindowsanddoors can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in some patients.