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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure. The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor might recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise. If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This is rare but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart seem to skip or flutter a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur they can make the heart feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. People who have suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps bloodand must be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about changes to their lifestyle. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker. Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These heartbeats that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, can weaken the heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs may appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health problems. PVCs could show up 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 may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's working. A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason 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 cardiac disease. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could help. 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, speak to your physician about the medications that could be able to control them. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). When you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these symptoms, but they're common in people who have other heart conditions. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beatings the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body. the window doctor and a healthy diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in sodium and fat, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medicines it is essential to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few people.