How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. 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 beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to problems with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're intense or frequent. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid the window doctor in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few individuals.