The Little-Known Benefits Of Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs.
If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you're experiencing lots of PVCs The doctor may recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can lead to stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot in the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also happen with exercise, though many athletes who get them do not have any issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor can often tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk to your doctor about medications that can control them.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes of the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid explanation in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This could lead to the need for a transplant in some people.