How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly 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 cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase their risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many 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. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a concerns.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check 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 triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. window doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted.
Most people with PVCs are not affected and live a normal life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential to follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain patients.