How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart tilt and turn window repair increase your risk for heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, Aluminum Window Repair or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

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

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase the risk.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress levels by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, Vinyl window repair or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood - should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker.

Even if you don't experience any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently might feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you suffer from PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has extra 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 frequently during exercising.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.

Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.

A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Certain people may require a heart transplant.