How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating a beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however 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 region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. linked here may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.
Even if you don't experience any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. 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 could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when 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 concerns.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping 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, speak to your doctor about medication that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercising.
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 may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.