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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 heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable if you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by having enough sleep and working out. If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. Even if you don't experience any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of cardiac disease. If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-cheltenham/ are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat them. Treatment If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than 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 extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercise. A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible. The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant. |
