How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication. In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure. The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase their risk. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you have many PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is an illness that can cause stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness. The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-harpenden/ expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heartbeat over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records 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 suffer from cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. A doctor may be able to tell whether the patient is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercise. A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI is possible. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. They may increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.