What Pvc Doctor Could Be Your Next Big Obsession?
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any issues. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely without causing any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. windowdoctor can also take steps to reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.
If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the top right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps bloodand must be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if you don't have any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Often, a doctor will be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease in the event of any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs, a physician is required to perform 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 activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's advice regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.