How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your glazing doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your glazing doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which 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. But a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, the heart may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the door doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like beta blockers.

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

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Most of the time, a door doctor will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a concerns.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine window and door doctor over-the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your window & door Doctor might want to look for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which 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. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient is experiencing 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 to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes for the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.