How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from 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 called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or Window sash replacement feels fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor Ranch Window Repair may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently 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 could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could help manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should 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 extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for 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 suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some people.