How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your upvc door 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 the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor windows may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals 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) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen, the heart may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the window doctor near me top right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors 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 whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues window and door doctor can live a normal life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow the advice of your window & door doctor about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require an organ transplant.