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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. However, if they happen frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand part of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA Node) does not. Instead, windows doctor starts in a different area of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, can feel like your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase your risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, may weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which may lead to symptomatic heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain drinks or foods. People who experience chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might suggest that you stay away from certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress by taking enough rest and exercising. If you have many PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It destroys the cells that cause them. This is done by a specialist called an electrophysiologist. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain instances, it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, however, you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to the heart to begin the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different location, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat or feel like it skipped a beat. If you experience only just a few episodes and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you've got a lot of PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. Anyone who has suffered previously from a heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood – should take their PVCs seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow down the heartbeat. Even if you don't have any other symptoms, you should still get PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem in the structure of your lungs or heart, and if they occur often enough, they can weaken your heart muscle. The majority of people with PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them frequently may feel faint. They can also occur during exercising, but most athletes who suffer from them don't have issues in their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and observe how it's working. A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes, they may only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used in the event of any suspicion of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you feel anxious, staying away from caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can all help to 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 reduce them. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they are frequent your doctor may want to check for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them. If you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat begins somewhere other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercise. A doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram for a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats the heart catheterization or a cardiac MRI could be conducted. Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. They can increase your risk for dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they happen in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you take any of these medications, it is important to follow the advice of your doctor regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. Some patients may require a heart transplant.