The Reasons Pvc Doctor Is Harder Than You Imagine

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is 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 may treat them with medication.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and Soundproof Window Repair alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or colonial window repair ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart.

When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat like a beta blocker.

Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.

Often, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any concern.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (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 extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercise.

If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.

Most people with PVCs have no complications and live the normal life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body.

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

In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some individuals.