The Little-Known Benefits Of Pvc Doctor How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

A lot of people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. 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 fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. windows doctor could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.

In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you have lots of PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

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, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart.


When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood -- must be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers.

Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) 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 the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.

If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could help manage these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right 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 unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercising.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty 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. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.