How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and observe how it's functioning.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are window doctor for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed.
Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can live a normal life. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is essential to follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain people.