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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. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) usually controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat in a region known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA Node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia, and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beating or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently and have no symptoms or they can occur frequently enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure. The signs of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase their risk. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you have frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress levels, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise. If you have many PVCs, he may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. This procedure is performed by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs, reducing symptoms but does not prevent them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can lead to stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. The electrical signals typically begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right side of the heart. These signals travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left side of the heart. When PVCs occur, the heart may 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 have many PVCs the doctor may suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs. Anyone who has suffered a heart attack in the past or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which affects the way that the heart pumps blood -and should be aware of their PVCs and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if do not have other symptoms, you should consult an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular can indicate problems with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs do not experience any issues. They want to know if the rapid heartbeats, or the skipping of heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs may feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like 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 issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. window doctors may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and determine how it's functioning. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if someone is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to identify cardiac problems if there is any concerns. If your cardiologist finds that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are extreme, talk to your doctor about medication options to treat these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected, your doctor may want to look for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also have an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid of them. If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. They're more common among people with heart problems however it's unclear the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they may be more frequent during exercise. A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are due to physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally important. Some medicines may also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are high (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) there was a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can lead to the need for a transplant in some people.