How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.

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

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid 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. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience just 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 the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have had a prior heart attack or have 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. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

Even if you don't experience any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's working.

Often, a doctor loft window repair will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and skylight window Replacement physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, window restoration service they don't usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes for the additional beats.

Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems and Picture window Repair can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require a heart transplant.