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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they can happen often enough to affect your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medication if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which could lead to heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more evident if you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise. If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys cells that cause PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is typically 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 your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can lead to a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you experience only a few episodes, and no other symptoms are present the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – a condition which affects the heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. the window doctor that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur frequently enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but most athletes who suffer from them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as following an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used when there is a concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. 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 is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises. 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 will probably also do an exercise stress test to see 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 for the extra beats. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In certain cases, it means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to the need for a heart transplant in a few people.