Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) can begin in any of the lower heart chambers or ventricles and disrupt the regular rhythm of the heart. This disruption causes the patient to feel a fluttering sensation in the heart or a pounding heart which is the result of skipped beats. PVCs are not uncommon and are also known as ventricular extra systoles or premature beats. If PVCs occur occasionally, they are not really concerning, and no treatment is needed. Most people are unaware of the presence of PVCs, especially if they lead busy and active lives. However, if they are the result of a serious heart problem, anxiety, or other issues, they need to be treated and it is essential that you visit the doctor and identify the potential cause of the PVC. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture can also be used to relive the symptoms of PVCs.
Monitoring PVCs to Detect Heart Disease
PVCs are of concern in that they may be the cause of sudden cardiac death. Frequent PVCs also cause heart disease in some populations. PVCs are premature because it happens before the regular heartbeat is supposed to occur. It may be the result of triggers such as anxiety, antihistamines, acid reflux, insomnia, tobacco, or caffeine. An injury to the heart could also cause a disruption in the working of the ventricles. Possible cardiac diseases that could occur as a result of PVCs are coronary artery disease and dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with resultant heart failure. People with PVCs are expected to go for regular checkups so that doctors can monitor for heart disease and control it preemptively. Acupuncture is also an accepted method of reducing PVCs.
Treating PVCs with Acupuncture
When you go to an acupuncturist, they will obtain your health history before examining your tongue, checking your pulse, and conducting other examinations as necessary. It is based on this data that they decide which acupoints to choose for manipulation. The patient lies comfortably on the table and the precise points are stimulated. Most patients do not complain of pain, only a slight discomfort perhaps when the needle is inserted. It should be noted that the needles are extremely fine and the treatment lasts usually for about 30 minutes. The patient is able to relax during his acupuncture session for diseases such as PVCs. The number of visits required depends on the chronicity of the problem. More acute problems need fewer sessions of acupuncture treatment.
Making the Right Diagnosis
PVCs can be diagnosed with the help of a 12-lead EKG, Holter monitoring, or event monitoring. Once the patient has been diagnosed with arrhythmia, then EKGs are used to identify the presence or absence of underlying heart disease. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture for PVCs places great emphasis on patient involvement in the treatment of the disease. The patient is helped to understand the disease and its causes and to make lifestyle changes that will contribute to a positive outcome in the treatment. Acupuncture along with herbal medicines has been found to be quite effective in treating PVCs. Acid reflux can also trigger PVCs when a person has a huge meal while drinking soda at the same time. The sudden increase in stomach pressure can trigger the nerve reflux causing PVC, especially when a person is lying down right after his meal.
In Conclusion, Most PVCs are related with imbalance of the neurotransmitters and nervous system. Acupuncture can be used to balancing the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system. Furthermore, acupuncture helps body produce more relaxing hormones, so the heart can beat more regularly with more strength. If a patient has anatomical problems, such as defect in their valves and blockage of coronary arteries, it takes longer time to achieve result with acupuncture and Chinese hers.
Li Zheng is a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist and a graduate of the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine with 11 years of formal training, including 6 years of residency. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from the US and is a Harvard Medical School-trained researcher and a professor at the New England School of Acupuncture. Her two practices are located in Needham, MA and Boca Raton, FL. She has 26 years of clinical experience. Here she is sharing the information about Acupuncture treatment for PVCs.