How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and childproof window Repair arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods, 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 suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. 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 may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician 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. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or Victorian Window repair feel as if it skipped a beat. If you have only a few episodes, and Window Sealing there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

People who have had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. They can also happen with exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that may be able to control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or fix window leaks medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.

A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other reasons for the additional beats.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.