• 목록
• 답변
• 글쓰기
• 게시판 리스트 옵션
  • 수정
  • 삭제

How a VC Can Affect Your Heart

Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. 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's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or emergency window repair hinge repair (visit here) lower chambers of your heart.

Causes

PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers an untimed beat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.

PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially true if the PVCs result from a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure.

The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can increase their risk.

If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may suggest that you stay away from certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce 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 called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can cause 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 flutter or skip the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and return to the heart and start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart.

When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you only have just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs.

If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat.

If you have frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or racing heartbeats aren't normal.

Diagnosis

PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's working.

A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a concern.

If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms.

Treatment

If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent generally, they don't require treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may want to check for heart problems or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them.

If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency as we age and can occur more frequently during exercising.

A physician should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be conducted to determine other reasons for the additional beats.

The majority of people with PVCs have no complications and can lead the normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body.

Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication.

In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few patients.