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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice 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 move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease in the event of any concerns.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand window balance repair corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few patients.