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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and can be experienced by a variety of people without causing any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in another area of your heart—the ventricles—and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They may happen rarely and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. In most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more noticeable if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin and cocaine can increase the risk of developing them. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising. If you have many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from occurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to a stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you've experienced only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. They may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to determine the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has suffered a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy, an illness that affects heart's blood flow – must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, for example, a beta blocker. Even if there aren't any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an cardiologist if they occur frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can point to an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs may be felt as fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's functioning. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease if there is any concern. If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could help manage these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them. If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has extra beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart issues. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may be more frequent during exercise. A physician should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. window doctor should also conduct an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the increased beats. Most people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. A healthy and balanced diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. You should also try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Some people may need a heart transplant.