A Guide To Pvc Doctor From Beginning To End
How a VC Can Affect Your Heart
Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles.
Causes
PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly relevant if they are triggered by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which can lead to symptomatic heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise.
If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that cause them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness.
The electrical signals normally begin in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push the blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts 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 appear to be racing or pounding. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not treat you. However, if you have lot of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.
Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -- a condition that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand should take their PVCs seriously and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
Even if you don't experience any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs do not experience 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, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart.
Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect heart disease in the event of any concern.
If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If glass doctor are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart conditions and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation).
If you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart issues. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising.
A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other reasons for the increased beats.
Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. They could increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body.
A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat and limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in certain patients.