Why Pvc Doctor Is Right For You?
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase their risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If Repair My Windows And Doors have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
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, or ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - must take their PVCs seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker.
If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up 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 may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether someone has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are a result of physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats an invasive heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues and can lead the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having 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 reduce your chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few patients.