How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as 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 in a region known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to a stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, window doctors contract to propel blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have.
People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or have suffered from 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 modifications. This includes cutting down on 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 you don't experience any other signs however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease.
If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that could help manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.
If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats the heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed.
The majority of people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. 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 healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some patients may require an organ transplant.