How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the 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's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also 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 and not cause any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If window doctors www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk have many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right 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 start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine 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, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.