• 글쓰기
• 목록

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.

A bundle of fibers in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles.

Causes

PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.

For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.

PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk.

If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid some drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels, and get plenty of sleep and exercise.

If you have many PVCs, your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening.

Signs and symptoms

Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle in the bottom left of the heart.

When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs.

People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working.

Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if someone has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. However, sometimes they will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concern.

If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your physician about the medications that could be able to manage them.

Treatment

If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your window & Door Doctor might want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercising.

If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the door doctor extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted.

The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.

A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your glass doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.

Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.