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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles. Causes PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase their risk. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise. If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-gloucester/ expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart. When PVCs occur, the heart may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs. People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. Even if you don't have any other signs, 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 often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many 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 contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working. Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug 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 are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help manage them. Treatment
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located 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 beats or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercises. A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed. The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body. A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice regarding 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 found. This could lead to the need for a transplant in certain individuals. |
