What Is Pvc Doctor And Why Is Everyone Talking About It
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right portion of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into the door doctor lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the window & door Doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the additional beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can live the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it is important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in some patients.