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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure. The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel from this node to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles and causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they may occur frequently enough to impact your daily life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. For most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Regular PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more noticeable if you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic stress or anxiety. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase their risk. If window doctors near me experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor may suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress, and get plenty of sleep and exercise. If you're experiencing many PVCs, he may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can result in stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter the beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness. The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right part of the heart. They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into the lungs, and then return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced just a few episodes but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge the heart's rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and consult a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. If you have frequent PVCs even if do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They would like to know if rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly might feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who get them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's functioning. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems in the event of any reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. However, if your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that could be able to control the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You may also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them. If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. It's not clear what causes these, but they're more common in people with other heart problems. PVCs are more frequent as you age, and may occur more frequently during exercise. A doctor should conduct an ECG along with an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be conducted to determine other causes of the extra beats. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live an ordinary life. They can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In certain cases, it means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances 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 crucial. Some medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. This can result in the need for a transplant in a few people.