How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you have 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 alcohol and caffeine. You can also lessen stress by taking enough rest and exercising.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location, the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medication options to treat them.
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If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercise.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. So if you take one of these medications, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a transplant in some people.