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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are common and may be experienced by a variety of people with no cause for concern. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your risk for heart failure. The heart's rhythm is usually controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs occur by the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. Instead, the impulse starts in a different part of your heart called the ventricles and triggers a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it's fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your quality of living. If they happen frequently or cause weakness, dizziness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. Frequent PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart condition like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel breathless. The fluttering could be more noticeable when you exercise or have certain drinks or foods. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs and certain drugs like amiodarone digoxin and cocaine can increase the chance of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If you experience frequent PVCs, your doctor might recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks like caffeine and alcohol. You can also take steps to reduce your stress levels, 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 eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who carry out this procedure. The treatment is typically successful in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it may increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could cause stroke. It is not common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contracts or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are usually harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness. Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right portion of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs, and then return to your heart to begin the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers, 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've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor will probably not treat you. If you've got a large number of PVCs, the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, or ECG to gauge your heart rate over a 24-hour period. They may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that will track the heart's rhythm over time, allowing you to see the number of PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy -an illness that alters the way the heart pumps blood should be aware of their PVCs and speak with a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress, and ensuring adequate sleep. Full Write-up may also prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, like a beta blocker. Even if there aren't any other signs, you should still get PVCs checked by a cardiologist if they happen frequently. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs, and if they happen often enough, it could weaken the heart muscle. But most people suffering from PVCs don't experience any problems. They want to know if the fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs may feel like fluttering or skipped heartbeats, particularly when they are frequent or intense. People who experience them often may feel faint. They can also happen with training, even though many athletes who suffer from them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These patches contain sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an ultrasound echocardiogram for examining the heart. A doctor can often tell the presence of PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. Sometimes it is possible that they not be aware of PVCs until they examine patients for a different reason such as following an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of heart disease. If your cardiologist determines that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the prescription decongestants, as well as decreasing stress can aid. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, speak to your doctor about medication that could be able to reduce them. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might be able to look for heart conditions or recommend lifestyle adjustments. You might also get an intervention to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you suffer from PVCs The electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place outside of the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the top right corner of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those suffering from heart disease however, it's not clear what causes them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and may occur more often during exercising. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. They may also perform an exercise stress test to see if the extra beats are due to physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study could be performed to find other causes of the extra beats. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of heart rhythm disorders that can be dangerous particularly if they develop 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 your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods high in fat and sodium, and limit your intake of caffeine and tobacco. Sleep and stress are also important. Certain medications can 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 with an excessive amount of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) discovered that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This could lead to a need for a heart transplant in a few people.