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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

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

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. window doctor are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.





When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend 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 that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could help manage the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercise.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other reasons for the increased beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it's crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few patients.