How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs result from a condition 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 skipping an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and Energy-efficient window repair (Https://warmcolony50.werite.net/) medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.

If you have lots of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped one beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.

Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, broken ranch window repair window screen repair (https://telegra.Ph) and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.

The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

A healthy and balanced diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk of 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 suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some individuals.