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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and secure window repair medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, repair they cause the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.

Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.

A doctor may be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercises.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes of the increased beats.

The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.