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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and may be experienced by many people without causing any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart skipped a beat or feels like it is fluttering. They can occur rarely, causing no symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk. If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid some foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise. If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractures PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, which is in the top right side of the heart, and descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped the beat. If you have only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have. If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy – a condition which affects the heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker. Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working. A doctor may be able to tell whether someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used if there's any concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to reduce these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. the window doctor can feel like your heart skips a beat or has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart issues. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercising. A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They may also perform an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings, a heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases, that means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication. Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need an organ transplant.