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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that 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, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you're suffering from many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A pvc doctor begins in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's working.
A doctor may be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your pvc doctor may wish to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the upvc doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead a normal life. They can increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.