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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and may be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. But if they occur 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 regulates your heart rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse which normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, double glazing doctors starts in a different part of your heart—the ventricles—and causes a mistimed beat. 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 cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to impact your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medication. PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain foods or beverages. People with chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a regular occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and working out. If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure destroys the cells that cause them. This procedure is performed by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. The treatment is typically effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. This is rare, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness. The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs occur, the heart may feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to determine the heartbeat over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy — a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps blood — should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. Even if you don't experience any other symptoms however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs don't experience any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who suffer from these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram that uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working. A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and can be used if there's any concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to control them. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them. When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more often during exercises. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors is required to perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the increased heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other causes for the additional beats. Most people with PVCs are not affected and can lead an ordinary life. They may increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that your heart muscle gets weaker and has trouble pumping blood throughout your body. A regular, healthy diet and regular exercise can help reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough rest and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important to follow your doctor's advice about eating healthy, exercising, and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need a heart transplant.