7 Essential Tips For Making The The Most Of Your Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node 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 known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.
PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out.
If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. The treatment is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness.
The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right corner of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's skipping a beat or pounding. If you experience only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. 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 had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if there aren't any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical.
Diagnosis
PVCs might be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another 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 identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat these symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts 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 beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and could be more frequent during exercising.
If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other reasons for the extra beats.
Most people with PVCs don't experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets 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 fat and sodium and restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet and exercising as well as taking your medication.
Studies of patients with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Internet Page can lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.