How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. 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), a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. 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 normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place in the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have.
If you've had previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as beta blockers.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to manage them.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and window doctor are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.
