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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart rhythm. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that usually begins your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed 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 may also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of life. If they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication. PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly true if the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy that can cause heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing an beat, or fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more common in those suffering from chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are experiencing occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If you have frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also take steps to lessen your stress levels, and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you're experiencing lots of PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contracts PVCs, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may want to consult your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node, located in the top right portion of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lung. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC starts in a different location that is the Purkinje fibres bundle at the bottom left of the heart. When PVCs occur, they can make the heart beat faster or feel as if it skipped the beat. If you have only a few episodes, but no other symptoms, the doctor will probably not treat you. However, if you have number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor which tracks your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs. 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 very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as a beta blocker. Even if you don't have any other signs however, you should have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs do not experience any issues. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can cause PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine a patient for another reason, like following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to identify cardiac problems when there is a concerns. If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance is the only treatment needed. However, if your symptoms are troubling or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible treatments that could help control the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they occur frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart problems or suggest lifestyle adjustments. 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 creates your heartbeat is located other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises. A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient who suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of physical exercise. To find out if there are other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted. Most people with PVCs have no complications and live a normal life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat, and you should also reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and the window doctors are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow the doctor's advice regarding eating healthy, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require an organ transplant.