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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower heart chambers, or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are also known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. It could feel as if the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. PVCs are generally harmless and don't increase the risk of heart disease. Frequent PVCs however, may weaken the 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 can lead to symptomatic heart failure. The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, may increase their risk. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise. If you have many PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is generally successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It is not common however it could be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, may make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are 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. The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, 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 then contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart and start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC begins 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 they can make the heart feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to see how many PVCs you have. People who have had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy — a condition that affects how the heart pumps blood — should be aware of their PVCs and speak with an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep. A cardiologist may prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, like a beta blocker. Even if you don't experience any other indications, you should still get PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. double glazing doctors that are irregular could signal a problem with the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially when they're frequent or intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're going to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and the reduction of stress could aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medications that can control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or do not cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medicine. You could also have an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you suffer from PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node that is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. It's not known what causes these symptoms, but they're frequent in those with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency with age and might happen more often during exercising. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test in order to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes for the additional beats. Most people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout the body. Regular exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you take any of these medications it is crucial that you follow your doctor's recommendations about eating healthy and exercising as well as taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require an organ transplant.