How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or Door doctor SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the door doctor near me event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your upvc door doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor starts in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor The door doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor may be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

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-hand corner of your heart. This can 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 not clear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.

Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.