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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

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

The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally begins your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to impact your quality of living. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine.

PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs, and some drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them.

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 reduce stress by taking enough rest and working out.

If you’ve got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however, it doesn’t prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare however it could be life-threatening.

Symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.

Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins 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, they make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped a beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won’t be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart’s rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy — a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood -and should take their PVCs seriously and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker.

If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you don’t have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don’t have any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren’t normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they’re frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it’s working.

Often, a doctor will be able to tell whether a person is suffering from PVCs from a patient’s history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there’s any concern of cardiac disease.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that’s needed. If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about possible medications that can control these symptoms.

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If PVCs don’t cause symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don’t require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you suffer from 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 additional beats. It’s not known what causes these, but they’re more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercises.

If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the additional beats.

Most people who suffer from PVCs don’t experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor’s recommendations regarding healthy eating exercising, as well as taking your medication.

In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.