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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.





For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. 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 recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If window doctor have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just 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 frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study 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, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that may be able to manage them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. They're more common among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.

A healthy and balanced 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 tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from 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. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some patients.