Pvc Doctor Tips From The Top In The Business How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may 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 usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the upper right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they cause the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. However, if you have large number 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 that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, beta blockers.

Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. window doctors use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.


If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical activity. To determine whether there are any other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.

Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. But they can 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 gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications it is essential that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.

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