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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur regularly, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing an irregular heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering. the window doctors can happen infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor might treat them with medication. For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more apparent if you exercise, or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods, such as caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you're suffering from many PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can result in stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart appear to flutter or skip one beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might be advised to consult your physician in the event of frequent heartbeats or if you experience symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart, and move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to pump blood into the lung. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins in a different place, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left side of the heart. When PVCs occur they can make the heart appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG, to measure the heart's rate over the course of 24 hours. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have. If you've had previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects the heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. Even if you don't experience any other indications however, you should have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not have any issues. They are interested in knowing if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and determine how it's working. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if a person has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, like following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems if there is any reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control them. Treatment If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they occur frequently your doctor may be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle modifications. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place different than the sinoatrial nerve (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. It's unclear what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart conditions. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently 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 may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. To determine if there are other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible. Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout the body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you are taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about eating well, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.