How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

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

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

Causes

PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. But a pvc doctor Near me begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

Even if there aren't any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the door doctor near me heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor may be able to identify if a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor window may need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.

Most people with PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it's crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.