![[PukiWiki]](image/pukiwiki.png "[PukiWiki]")
|
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure. A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication. PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress by having enough sleep and exercising. If you have many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs. 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 changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers. Even if you don't have any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working. A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any concern. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them. If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other reasons for the additional beats. Most people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication. In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few people. |
