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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.

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

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.

The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk of developing PVCs.

If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by getting enough sleep and exercising.

If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart seem to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.

Normaly, electrical signals 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, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you only have a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have.

Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood -- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers.

Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur often. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. windows doctor can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's working.

A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect heart disease when there is a concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medications that can control them.


Treatment

If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get an intervention 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 outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in some people.

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