How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or Aluminum Window Repair the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and hopper Window repair symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.

Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could be able to reduce the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

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 make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercises.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.

The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. They could increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding 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) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.