How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. 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 may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you're suffering from lots of PVCs The upvc door doctor near me may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a Pvc doctor begins at a different spot, 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 pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the window & door doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the 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 heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight window and door doctor drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercises.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible.

Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with pvc doctor near me burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.