The Under-Appreciated Benefits Of Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. window doctor includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, 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, speak to your physician about the medications that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to examine for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure 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 different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises.
If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be done to look for other causes of the additional beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They may increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in a few patients.