These Are Myths And Facts Behind Pvc Doctor
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically regulates your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication.
In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which may lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People with chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. 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 can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause a stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, however, you should consult your physician when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart. These signals move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart.
When PVCs occur and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If the glass doctor are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could point to a problem 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. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of 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 could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's functioning.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if someone is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition.
If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them.
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted.
Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and live a normal life. They could increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your risk 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 reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet exercising, as well as taking your medication.
In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in some individuals.