How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center 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 left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
If you've had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor may be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. window doctor can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a transplant in some individuals.