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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant 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 like a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by getting enough sleep and working out.

If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they make 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, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat such as a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's working.

A doctor may be able to determine if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak with your physician about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor garden window caulking picture window repair (lifetrust.com) may want to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed.

The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy 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 cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain people.