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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk of heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally triggers your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart—the ventricles—and causes a wrongly timed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is like it's fluttering. They may occur infrequently and not cause any symptoms, but they can be frequent enough to affect your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. For most people, PVCs are harmless and do not increase the risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs result from conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or is fluttering, and you feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more evident when you exercise, or consume certain drinks or foods. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Some drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, may increase the risk. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress by getting enough sleep and exercising. If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation, which eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some instances it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can cause a stroke. This isn't common but it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can cause your heart appear to flutter or skip the beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness. The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, or ventricles, which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to pump blood into the lungs. They return to the center to start the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment. However, if you have number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter Monitor that records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. Anyone who has suffered an earlier heart attack or cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects the method by which the heart pumps blood – should take their PVCs very seriously and consult an expert in cardiology about lifestyle modifications. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. If you experience frequent PVCs even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These heartbeats that are irregular could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But the window doctor with PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs might feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, especially if they're intense or frequent. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their health or heart. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist might also use an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to look at the heart and see how it's functioning. Often, a doctor will be able to determine if the patient is suffering from PVCs from a patient's history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only notice PVCs when examining a patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all you need. However, if your symptoms are causing discomfort or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants and reducing stress may help. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or severe, talk to your physician about the medications that may be able to manage these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or are not frequent they aren't usually in need of treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). When you have PVCs The electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right part of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they might occur more frequently during exercising. A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient who has frequent and painful PVCs to determine if there are structural heart problems. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are due to physical exercise. To find out whether there are any other causes for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or an MRI is possible. Most people with PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm issues, especially if you have certain patterns of them. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Sleep and stress are equally crucial. Certain medications can increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you are taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. Studies of patients who had an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.