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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.





Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have 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 the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to manage them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to look for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising.

A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes for the additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid double glazing doctor that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.