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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase their risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

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Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-crawley/ begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine the heart's rate over 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.

If you've had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate 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. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like 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, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the increased beats.

Most people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to the need for a transplant in some people.