How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
PVCs are common and can be experienced by a wide range of people without causing any issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure.
A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can cause 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 apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid 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 have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right-hand side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs and return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart.
When PVCs occur, the heart may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not treat you. But if you have a lot of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
If you've had a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - an illness that affects heart's blood flow - must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working.
A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome 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 aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control the symptoms.
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If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you are frequently affected and frequently, your doctor might want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercising.
A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other reasons for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and can live a normal life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require an organ transplant.