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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. 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 perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness. The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker. If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who get them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-southend/ use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control them. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising. A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes of the additional beats. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in some people. |
