The Lesser-Known Benefits Of Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from 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 heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase their risk.
If you are experiencing 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 lessen 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. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter 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 experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you've got a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor Louvred Window Repair that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or Condo window Repair other health issues, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They simply want to know 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. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could be able to manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other reasons for the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain people.