How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase their risk.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and Louvred Window Repair medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, window screen repair reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues in their heart or Childproof Window Repair health. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Most of the time, a doctor jalousie window Repair will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a history and physical examination. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few people.