15 Unexpected Facts About Pvc Doctor The Words You've Never Learned How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to a 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 flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be racing or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not be able to treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker.

Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often might feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, like 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 in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that could help reduce these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might need to examine for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercise.


If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. window doctors repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are a result of physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other reasons for the increased beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet 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) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few patients.