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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure. A bundle of fibers in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial, or SA, node) typically regulates your heart rhythm. 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 triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, causing an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your standard of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel breathless. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid certain drinks and foods, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out. If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is typically effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from occurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause stroke. It is not common, but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, may make your heart appear to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician when they occur frequently or if you notice symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial node located in the upper right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles then contract to propel blood into the lungs, and return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the bottom left of the heart. When repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk occur and the heart is affected, it may appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you have many PVCs and your doctor might suggest you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heart rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. If you've had a previous heart attack or cardiomyopathy – a condition which affects the heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. If you experience frequent PVCs, even if you don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could indicate an issue with the structure of your heart or other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they could weaken the heart muscle. However, most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs might appear to be fluttering or skip heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but many athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to tell whether the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might not be aware of PVCs until they examine a patient for another reason such as following an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of heart disease. If your cardiologist finds that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, staying away from alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. 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 may be able to manage the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they don't usually need treatment. If you are frequently affected or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You may also undergo an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people with heart problems however, it's not clear the reason behind them. PVCs are more frequent as we age and can occur more often during exercise. A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to rule out structural heart diseases. The doctor will also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are caused by physical activity. To find out whether there are any other causes for the increased beats an invasive heart catheterization or cardiac MRI is possible. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. They could increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous, especially if they occur in certain patterns. In some cases this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body. A healthy and balanced diet and regular exercise can reduce your chances 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 rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise 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. Some people may need a heart transplant.