What Can A Weekly Pvc Doctor Project Can Change Your Life
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If pvc doctor occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as 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 is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually successful in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can lead to stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may not be aware of PVCs until they examine the patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes for the increased beats.
The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it's crucial 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 the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require a heart transplant.