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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by a wide range of people with no cause for concern. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase the risk of heart failure. The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right part of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles. Causes PVCs are caused when the electrical impulse that usually starts your heartbeat at a point known as the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial or SA node) doesn't. Instead, the impulse is generated in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They may occur infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may be frequent enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor might prescribe medication when they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. PVCs are generally safe and do not increase your risk of developing heart disease. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are caused by an illness like dilated Cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating an beat, or fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or have certain drinks or food items. PVCs are more common in people with chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, can also increase the risk. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If window doctors 're a frequent occurrence, you may have to stay clear of certain foods and beverages like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to lessen your stress, and make sure you get enough sleep and exercise. If you're suffering from a lot of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This destroys the cells that are responsible for PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could result in a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, may make your heart appear to skip or flutter a beat. These heartbeats that are not normal can be harmless, but you may need to see your doctor if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. The normal electrical signals start in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right-hand part of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles then expand to push blood into the lungs, and return to the heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts in a different location and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is beating faster or slower. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present, your cardiologist will probably not be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over the course of 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time, allowing you to see how many PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -which affects how the heart pumps blood- should take their PVCs seriously and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. 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. Even if you don't have any other indications it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by a cardiologist if they happen often. These irregular heartbeats could indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't experience any problems. They are interested in knowing if the irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering, particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their heart or health. PVCs can be detected on tests such as an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. A doctor may be able to identify if the patient has PVCs from a history and physical examination. Sometimes, however, they may only be able to detect PVCs when they examine patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs, as well as other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease in the event of any concern. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can help to reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that may be able to control the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often, your doctor may want to check for other heart conditions and recommend lifestyle changes or medication. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you suffer from PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node that is 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. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues however it's unclear what causes them. PVCs can increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercises. If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out structural heart disease. The doctor will also likely perform 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 extra beatings, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI can be performed. The majority of people with PVCs do not suffer from any complications and can lead an ordinary life. They may increase the risk of developing 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 is unable to pump blood throughout the body. A regular, healthy diet and a lot of exercise can reduce the risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Stress and sleep are also crucial. Some medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. If you're taking one of these drugs it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients suffering from a high amount of PVCs (that's more than 20 percent of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Certain people may require a heart transplant.