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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the 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 controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.





PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If upvc window doctor experience only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

People who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on 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 due to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.

The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's 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), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few patients.