How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any 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-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
window doctors who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. 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 which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.