How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. the glass doctor may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right-hand side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge the heart's rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend 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, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used when there is a concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.