Why Everyone Is Talking About Pvc Doctor Right Now How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, double glazing doctor starts in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by having enough sleep and exercising.

If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs, and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you only have one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.

A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help reduce these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.

If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats.

The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can live the normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.


Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet and exercising as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in certain people.