How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that may be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. window doctor Repair My Windows And Doors or 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 do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in some people.