How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart’s rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This isn’t common however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you’ve experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, vinyl window repair the cardiologist probably won’t treat you. If you’ve got a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood – should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like beta blockers.
Even if there aren’t any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren’t normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, 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 problems. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it’s functioning.
A doctor may be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient’s history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, Window Restoration Company (www.stes.tyc.edu.tw writes) as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling 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 continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don’t usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it’s not known the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and office Window repair painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. They can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you’re taking one of these medications it is important to follow the doctor’s advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require an organ transplant.
