How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

If you've had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.

Even if you don't experience any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome, or emergency broken window repair repair - just click botdb.win - cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they occur frequently, window screen Repair your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercises.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption 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. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.