How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart–the ventricles–and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the glass doctor ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the window doctor near me may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and window and Door doctor count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood – must be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease if there is any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. 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. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your door doctor near me about possible medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs the window doctor electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.
(Image: https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/doorpanels-300x200.jpgÿ)Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some patients.