How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can cause stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. 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 start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem 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 with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any concerns.
If window doctors has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to 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 help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few individuals.