How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and apartment window repair sealing (http://spectr-sb116.ru/user/oxglass6/) medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases 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 contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps bloodand must be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak with your physician about possible 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, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, double hung window repair cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other reasons for the increased beats.

Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through 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 limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.