How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur 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) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular 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 can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by getting enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. These signals 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 to start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood must be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.
Even if you don't experience any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These extra heartbeats can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor may be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid window doctors in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.