How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed 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 may happen rarely and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable if you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you have a lot of PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. However, if you have lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.
A doctor will usually be able to determine the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can 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 extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercise.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. window doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live a 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 certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.