How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by taking enough rest and Bifold Doctor (Peatix.Com) working out.

If you're suffering from lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a Pvc doctor starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor may be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to manage them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand 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 suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the double glazing doctor additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that your 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 high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to the need for a transplant in certain people.