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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, 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 rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. But a pvc doctor starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
A glazing doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high Pvc Doctor burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some patients.