CARVIS.KR

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs without 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 nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner 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 happen when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can 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 can be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest 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 lessen your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you're experiencing many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into the lungs, door and window doctor then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a Pvc Doctor begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, windows Doctor when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the window & door doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the increased beats.

The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.