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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 issues. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that typically starts your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) isn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly the case if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure. The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress by having enough sleep and working out. If window doctors near me experiencing a lot of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can result in stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you might want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node which is in the top right side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then expand to push blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs occur, they make the heart pound or feel like it skipped the beat. If you experience just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heart rhythm and counts the number of PVCs. People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy — a condition that alters the way the heart pumps blood- should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. Even if you don't experience any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health issues and, over time, if they occur often enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected 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 could also employ an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning. A doctor can often tell if a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. 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 monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak with your physician about possible medications that can control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle modifications. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercises. A doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. To determine if there are other causes for the increased beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI can be performed. The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. They could 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 gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout the body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to sleep enough and reduce stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential that you follow the advice of your doctor regarding healthy eating, exercising, and taking your medication. Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some people may need a heart transplant.