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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, he may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a pvc doctor starts in a different place that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be racing or pounding. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the way the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems 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 with PVCs do not have any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.

A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat 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 look for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor window will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.

Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body.

A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and 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 rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.