10 Healthy Pvc Doctor Habits

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them.

If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising.

If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

Even if you don't experience any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning.

Often, Window condensation repair a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and low-E window repair over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medication that could be able to control these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise.

A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beatings an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.