How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located 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 which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. the window doctor repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you have many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests like 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.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could 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 medications that could be able to manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They could increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable 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 sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require a heart transplant.