Ventricular Extrasystoles
They can occur in otherwise completely healthy individuals, where they are relatively insignificant findings, but in some cases, they indicate damage to the heart muscle. They manifest as heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, skipped beats, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. Often, they are detected entirely by chance only during an ECG recording.
What are ventricular extrasystoles?
Ventricular extrasystoles (abbreviated as VES) occur due to the premature activation of the heart's ventricles. They can occur in otherwise completely healthy individuals, where they are relatively insignificant findings, but in some cases, they indicate damage to the heart muscle. They manifest as heart palpitations, irregular heartbeat, skipped beats, dizziness, shortness of breath, etc. Often, they are detected entirely by chance only during an ECG recording.
What causes ventricular extrasystoles?
Ventricular extrasystoles can occur in an otherwise healthy heart due to increased activity of a cluster of ventricular cells or as a result of heart muscle damage – in individuals after a myocardial infarction, with congenital heart defects, valvular defects, heart failure, etc. They are more common in people with high blood pressure.
What are the risks of ventricular extrasystoles?
If they occur in an otherwise healthy heart and there is no known genetic heart disease in the family, their prognosis is generally good. However, a large number of premature ventricular contractions can lead to heart failure in some predisposed individuals. They are significant in patients with other heart diseases, where they may indicate a worse prognosis.
What is the treatment for ventricular extrasystoles?
In asymptomatic individuals with normal heart function, they generally do not require treatment, only monitoring. If symptoms develop, medications – so-called antiarrhythmics (e.g., beta-blockers) – are administered to suppress them. The goal is to treat the underlying heart condition (valvular defect, heart failure, etc.) that leads to the development of extrasystoles. Symptomatic and numerous ventricular extrasystoles can also be effectively resolved with catheter ablation, a specialized procedure that identifies the focus in the heart where the extrasystoles originate and subsequently removes it.
What should I do if I am diagnosed with ventricular extrasystoles?
The finding of ventricular extrasystoles should be consulted with a cardiologist. Based on objective information (12-lead ECG, echocardiography, in some cases, cardiac MRI), the cardiologist will assess the number of extrasystoles, their character, the risk they pose, and whether it is appropriate to start treatment or only monitor the patient.
If you feel unwell in any way, consider consulting a doctor immediately, regardless of the MyKARDI measurement results. An ECG recording from the chest strap cannot detect a myocardial infarction or generally deteriorating blood supply to the heart. A negative finding does not indicate the reason for any chest pain.
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