How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

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

A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to impact your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases, Residential Windows Repair it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand Metal Window Repair should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor may be able to tell whether a person has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, 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 cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain individuals.