How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur 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 located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of heart disease. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat or feel like it skipped one beat. If the full details experience only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have 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 heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's functioning.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the increased beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating 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) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a heart transplant in some people.