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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse which normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication. PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can result in a stroke. It is not common, 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 heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial region, which is in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart. When they said occur, they cause the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped one beat. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat for 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy — a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood – must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as beta blockers. Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They want to know if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. People who experience them regularly may feel faint. They can also occur with exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them do not have any issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as 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 examine the heart and see how it's working. A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease. If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce these 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 want to check for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them. If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs can become more frequent as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercising. A doctor should conduct an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be performed to find other causes for the additional beats. Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live the normal life. But 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 has trouble pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also limit caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important that you follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication. In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. This could lead to the need for a transplant in a few patients.