How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand 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 occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and commercial Window repair cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor window hardware repair might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers, custom Window Repair known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have.

People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, garden Window Repair such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.

When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercising.

If a patient has 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 additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the increased beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require a heart transplant.