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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart—the ventricles—and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats are also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medicine. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Over 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 could lead to symptoms of heart failure. The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can increase the risk. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising. If you're experiencing lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might need to see your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, or ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins in a different place that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs. People who have suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy, a condition which affects the heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medications to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any problems. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and see how it's working. A doctor is often able to tell if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. However, sometimes the window doctor near me will only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and decreasing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak with your physician about possible treatments that could help control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercising. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems and can enjoy an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of developing heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice 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. Some people may need an organ transplant.