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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of 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 in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your standard of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase their risk. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by taking enough rest and working out. If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In window doctor , it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractures or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right portion of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different place that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart. When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have. Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood – must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you don't have any other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's functioning. A doctor may be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the counter decongestants, and decreasing stress can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about possible medications that can control the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they happen frequently your doctor may need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle changes. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercise. A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine if the extra beats are caused by physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes of the increased beats. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues and live a normal life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, that means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication. Studies of patients who had a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few patients.