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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect 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 aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by 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 an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.

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Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be 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, located in the top right portion of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if https://anotepad.com/notes/mrpcrwhn have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require a heart transplant.