Warrencarstens1379

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, 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 node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.

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

If you're experiencing many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be 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 corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects 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, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis





PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. door and window doctor could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require an organ transplant.