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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner 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 typically initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. Repair My Windows And Doors UK , known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.

If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if don't have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem 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 with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could be able to manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead a normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.