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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part 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 it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. window doctor can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you're experiencing lots of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medications that can control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

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. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercising.

A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats.

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





A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.