How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. 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 part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or eat or drink 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, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.

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

If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A pvc doctor near me doctor, wollesen-Brock-2.thoughtlanes.net, starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs the upvc door doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like beta blockers.

Even if you don't experience any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medications that can control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they happen frequently your window doctor may need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs window doctors near me is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the double glazing doctor increased heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the extra beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and can lead a normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

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