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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat in a part called 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 also known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently 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 issues. double glazing doctors of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially the case if they are caused by a heart disease such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident if you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by getting enough sleep and working out. If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In some instances it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can result in stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can cause your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped one beat. If you experience a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. But if you have a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. If you've had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers. If you experience frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart. A doctor may be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to detect cardiac disease if there is any reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can also help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about treatments that could help control them. Treatment If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to check for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. 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 triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercises. A doctor should perform an ECG along with an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical exercise. To determine whether there are other reasons for the extra beats the heart catheterization or an MRI could be conducted. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle. They can increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, that means the heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it is important to follow the doctor's advice about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few individuals.