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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs with no problems. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure. The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node or SA. upvc doctor travel from this node to the lower heart chambers or ventricles. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that typically initiates your heartbeat in a part known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different area of your heart—the ventricles—and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They can occur infrequently and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to interfere with your daily life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. PVCs are generally harmless and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Over time, frequent PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially when the PVCs are caused by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms, such as a sensation of your heart skipping an beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. It is also possible to feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise, or eat or drink certain foods or beverages. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase their risk. If you have occasional PVCs, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they are a regular occurrence, you may have to avoid some foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce your stress and take advantage of plenty of rest and exercise. If you have many PVCs the doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is which can result in stroke. This is rare but can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractures, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or flutter. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, however you might be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you notice symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. A PVC starts in a different location in the Purkinje fibres bundle in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel like it is skipping a beat or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, the cardiologist probably won't treat you. But if you have a number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to determine your heart rate over a 24-hour period. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor, which will record your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have. People who have suffered previously from a heart attack or cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects heart's blood flow – should take their PVCs very seriously and speak to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing anxiety and stress, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat such as beta blockers. Even if you don't have any other signs however, you should have PVCs checked by an expert in cardiology if they occur often. These irregular heartbeats could signal a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they occur frequently enough, it could weaken your heart muscle. But the majority of people suffering from PVCs don't have any issues. They just want to know that the fluttering or skipping heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs may feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're going to faint. Exercise can cause them, but many athletes who experience them have no heart or health issues. PVCs can show up in tests like an electrocardiogram, or Holter monitor. These patches have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart. A doctor will usually be able to determine if a patient has PVCs by examining them and taking their medical history. Sometimes however, they might only notice PVCs when examining the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and they might be used when there is a concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance will be the only treatment required. If your symptoms are bothersome or make you feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms continue or are severe, speak to your doctor about medication options to treat them. Treatment If PVCs don't cause symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to check for other heart issues and suggest lifestyle changes or medication. You could also undergo an operation (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to get rid them. If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat begins somewhere outside of 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 has a few extra beats. It's not clear what causes them, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs can increase in frequency with age and might happen more frequently during exercises. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to determine whether the extra beats are a result of physical exercise. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be done to look for other causes for the increased beats. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any issues and can live a normal lifestyle. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm issues especially if you are suffering from 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 can lower the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also crucial. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. So if you take one of these drugs, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from an excessive amount 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 an organ transplant.