How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure A bundle of fibers located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart the sinoatrial, or SA, node typically regulates your heart rhythm Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node is not initiated The impulse actually starts in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels like it is fluttering They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could also happen frequently enough to affect your quality of living Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue For most people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues In time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle This is particularly true if the PVCs result from an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure The signs of PVCs include a feeling that your heart beats slower or flutters, and you may feel breathless The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain beverages or foods People who experience chronic stress or anxiety can have more PVCs and certain medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine may increase the risk of developing them If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine You can also take steps to reduce your stress and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor may recommend a medical procedure referred to as radiofrequency catheter ablation It destroys the cells that cause them Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure It is typically successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future In certain instances, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation AFib which is an illness that can result in stroke This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contracts, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or be fluttering These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you experience symptoms like dizziness, or fatigue The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial area, which is located in the upper right-hand part of the heart They then move to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs, and return to the heart to start the next cycle of pumping However, a PVC starts at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, located in the left-hand side of the heart When PVCs occur, they can make the heart pound or feel as if it skipped the beat If you only have a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms the cardiologist will likely not prescribe treatment If you have a lot of PVCs the doctor may suggest that you undergo an electrocardiogram ECG to monitor your heartbeat over the course of 24 hours They may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records your heartbeat and tracks the number of PVCs http//digitalmainenet/mediawiki3/indexphptitle=whittakerhviid6801 who has suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy - a condition which affects the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist regarding lifestyle changes This includes avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough sleep A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat Even if you don't experience any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an cardiologist if they occur frequently These heartbeats that are irregular could indicate a problem in the structure of your heart or lungs and if they happen often enough, can weaken the heart muscle But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems They are interested in knowing if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, especially if they are frequent and intense People who get lots of them may feel they're going to faint Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience these symptoms do not have heart or health problems PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram ECG or Holter monitor They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to study the heart and see how it's functioning Often, a doctor will be able to determine if a person has PVCs through a medical history and physical exam Sometimes, they may not be aware of them until they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after an accident or surgery Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also help detect PVCs and other arrhythmias, and they might be used in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed If your symptoms are causing you discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and over-the drug decongestants and reducing stress may aid Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk with your physician about possible medication options to treat these symptoms Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually require treatment If you experience them frequently or frequently, your doctor may wish to look for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications You could also have a procedure to get rid of them called radiofrequency catheter ablation When you have PVCs the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of the sinoatrial node SA node located in the upper right corner of your heart This could cause it to feel like your heart skips beats or has a few extra beats It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercises If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are caused by physical activity To find out whether there are other reasons for the increased beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead a normal lifestyle They can increase your risk for heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop in certain patterns In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your chances of developing PVCs You should avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco Sleep and stress are equally crucial Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs If you take any of these medicines it is crucial to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding healthy eating and exercising as well as taking your medication Studies of patients suffering from a high burden of PVCs that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy Some people may need a heart transplant