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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually 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 travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.

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

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

If you have 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. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If window doctor experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.





If you've had an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and live the normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A healthy, regular diet and regular exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

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