There Are Myths And Facts Behind Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. 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) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness 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. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might 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're suffering from lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your window & upvc door doctor doctor (Continuing) about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.