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.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the 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 the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping a beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk.

If you have occasional PVCs Your glazing doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by taking enough rest and working out.

If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a Pvc doctor begins in a different location and is located in the double glazing doctor bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the glass doctor cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs door and window doctor you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if you don't have any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

Often, a glass doctor near me will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the extra beats.

Most people with PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.

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

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.