How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or Storefront Window repair foods. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically effective 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. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or wooden UV-resistant window repair leaded glass window repair (kingranks.com) flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

Even if there aren't any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any concern.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not known what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.

A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require an organ transplant.