How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner 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 occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region called the door doctor near me sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your upvc doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may 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 like dizziness, or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A pvc Doctor begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor window may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor may be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in a few individuals.