mondaybow73

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no 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 usually controlled by a group of fibers located 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 happen when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a region called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine. For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lower your stress levels by taking enough rest and working out. If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically successful 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 is a condition that can result in stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the bottom left portion of the heart. When PVCs occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have. People who have had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and must be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if window doctors are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your doctor about medications that may be able to manage these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you experience them frequently, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercise. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from 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. A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication. Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.