How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. 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 bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or fix window leaks the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or fix double Pane Window stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

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

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo 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-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes for the increased beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require a heart transplant.