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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard 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. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. window doctors near me fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

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

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you only have one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.





People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.

Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any concerns.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could help reduce them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to the need for a transplant in certain people.