How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person has PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used 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 needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. 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 which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercises.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly 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.
Repair My Windows And Doors and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need a heart transplant.