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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

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

PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also 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 stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called 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 instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.





The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can 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. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

the window doctor , healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.