How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. 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 are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one 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, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. window doctor may be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the additional beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live the normal life. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need an organ transplant.