How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as 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 starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.

If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice 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 travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. A upvc door doctor near me about treatments that could help control them.

Treatment

If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

When you have PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common 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 is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live a normal life. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body.

A healthy, regular diet and a lot of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's advice regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.

Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a transplant in certain individuals.