How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur 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 begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless. 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, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If the window doctor from lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. 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 developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other signs however, you should have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could be able to reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes for the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from 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 some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few patients.