How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the 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. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
For window doctors of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to a stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it 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 who have other heart issues. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.