What Experts In The Field Would Like You To Learn
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 happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused 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 feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, 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 expand to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
If you've had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and window refurbishment (ka4nem.ru) smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.
