How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically begins your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or Metal Window Repair SA Node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart--the ventricles--and causes an untimed 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 not cause any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they occur frequently or Emergency window repair cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, window condensation repair amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.

If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.

The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, the doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG, window security film to measure your heartbeat over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's working.

A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned.

If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, picture window repair staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce the symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.

If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and could be more frequent during exercises.

A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.

The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications, it's important to follow the doctor's advice about eating well, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some patients.