bankersilica17

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart—the ventricles—and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure. window doctor of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or is fluttering, and you feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness. Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you experience only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – a condition which affects the heart's blood flow – must take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. Those include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. Even if you don't have any other symptoms it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could point to 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 the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel weak. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will not be aware of them until they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease when there is a concerns. If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could help reduce them. Treatment If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. They're more common among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercises. A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI can be performed. The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can lead the normal life. They could increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines, it's important to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from 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. Certain people may require a heart transplant.