![[PukiWiki]](image/pukiwiki.png "[PukiWiki]")
|
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. https://etextpad.com/dg9pxjol0b 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 to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should consult your physician 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 side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have. People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers. Even if there aren't any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning. A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about treatments that could help control them. Treatment If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. They may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet and exercising as well as taking your medication. Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain individuals. |
