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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor window may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A pvc Doctor begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like 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 when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your door doctor near me may want to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it 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 could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes for the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.