How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, Penthouse window repair they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor may be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, awning window frame repair window repair service (http://rutelochki.ru/User/truckbeet43/) and they might occur more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes of the additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and fireproof window Repair stress are also important. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.