How window doctor near me Can Affect Your Heart
A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. 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 fibers located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent if you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can increase the risk.
If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by having enough sleep and exercising.
If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from occurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart.
When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
People who have suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart.
A doctor may be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease.
If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as the reduction of stress could help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help manage the symptoms.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has extra beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs can increase in frequency as we age and can occur more often during exercise.
A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the extra beats.
The majority of people with PVCs are not affected and live the normal life. They could increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood through your body.
Regular exercise and a balanced diet will 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 important. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain people.