How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as 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 examine the heart and observe how it's working.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes window doctor is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need a heart transplant.