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PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure.
The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner 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 are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can occur frequently enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue.
For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially when the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that could lead to heart failure.
The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk.
If you are experiencing occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise.
If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might 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 typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in a stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening.
Signs and symptoms
Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter one beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.
Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right portion of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. But a PVC begins at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart.
When PVCs happen, the heart may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to see the number of PVCs you have.
If you've suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects the way that the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat.
If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats may signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal.
Diagnosis
PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who get lots of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working.
Often, a doctor will be able to identify if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned.
If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your doctor about medication that may be able to control them.
Treatment
If PVCs don't cause symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them.
If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those with heart problems, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises.
If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats.
Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication.
In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require an organ transplant.