How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) isn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered previous ly from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who get them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's functioning.
A doctor may be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medication options to treat the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can live the normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is crucial that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need an organ transplant.