Juulmassey3697

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

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





PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

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

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have any problems in their heart or health. window doctor can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any concerns.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.

Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.

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