How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.
Causes
PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart--the ventricles--and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and working out.
If you're suffering from lots of PVCs the doctor might recommend a medical treatment known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some instances, it can increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right portion of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart.
A doctor may be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control these symptoms.
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If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You may also undergo an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
When you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a transplant in some people.