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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial or SA node) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and have no symptoms or they may occur frequently enough to interfere with your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or 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 exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise or have certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase their risk. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also lessen your stress by taking enough rest and exercising. If you're experiencing a lot of PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases it may increase your risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which can cause a stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart appear to skip or flutter the beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. They descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to push the blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot that is the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel like it skipped a beat. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have. Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects method by which the heart pumps blood – should take their PVCs very seriously and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat like beta blockers. If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of an issue with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues. They simply want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs can appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, particularly when they're intense or frequent. People who experience them often might feel faint. They can also occur during training, even though many athletes who get them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. window doctors are sticky patches that have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart. A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They may be used to identify cardiac problems when there is a concern. If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that could be able to control them. Treatment If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may 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 in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or is beating faster. It's not known 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 frequently during exercises. If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To find out if there are other causes for the extra beats the heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed. Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live a normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body. A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Stress and sleep are also important. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is essential to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication. Studies of patients with a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in the need for a transplant in certain patients.