How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. 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, which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. They travel down 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 start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If upvc window doctor are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that could help reduce these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They can increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can result in the need for a transplant in some people.