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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your standard of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
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Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

If you've had an earlier heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.

A doctor may be able to identify if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercises.

A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes for the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

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Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require an organ transplant.