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

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by having enough sleep and working out.

If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which 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 does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, pvc doctor start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different place, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped the beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have.

People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could point to an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

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 about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized if there's any concern of heart disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control them.

Treatment


If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the additional beats.

Most people with PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.

Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.