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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart PVCs are commonplace and can be experienced by many people with no cause for concern. If they occur often, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure. A bundle of fibers located in the top right portion of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls the heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs happen by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, causing a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are known as ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation. They may feel like the heart skipped a beat or feels fluttering. They can occur rarely and not cause any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. Your doctor may prescribe medication in the event that they are frequent or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue. PVCs are generally safe and do not increase the risk of heart disease. Regular PVCs however, could weaken the heart muscle over time. This is especially true if they are caused by a heart disease like dilated cardiomyopathy, or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which could lead to symptoms of heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms like a feeling of your heart skipping a beat, or the feeling of your heart fluttering. You might also feel exhausted. The fluttering could be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more common for those who suffer from chronic stress or anxiety. Certain medications, like digoxin, amiodarone, and cocaine, can also increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you experience occasional PVCs, your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also reduce stress by getting enough sleep and working out. If you have a lot of PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. the window doctor eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. This is done by a specialist, known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but does not prevent them from becoming recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase your risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), which can lead to a stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, also known as PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip a beat. These extra heartbeats can be harmless, but you may be advised to consult your physician if they are frequent or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals start in the sinoatrial node located in the top right side of the heart. These signals descend to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. The ventricles then contract to force blood into the lungs. They return to the heart's center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC starts at a different spot and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers in the lower left part of the heart. When PVCs happen and the heart is affected, it may feel as if it's beating faster or slower. If you experience only just a few episodes and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not treat you. If you have a lot of PVCs and your doctor might recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for 24 hours. The doctor may also suggest wearing a Holter monitor that records your heart rhythm over time to determine the number of PVCs you have. People who have suffered a previous heart attack or have suffered from cardiomyopathy – an illness that affects the way the heart pumps blood – must take their PVCs seriously and consult a cardiologist regarding lifestyle modifications. Those include avoiding caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing anxiety and stress and ensuring adequate sleep. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, a beta blocker. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have any other symptoms you should see a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can indicate a problem with the structure of your heart or other health conditions, and over time, if they occur often enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any problems. They simply want to be aware that the fluttering and skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them may feel they're about to faint. They can also occur with training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs can be detected in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. They have sensors which record electrical impulses that come from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to examine the heart. A doctor will usually be able to determine whether a patient has PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. Sometimes, they may only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for different reasons, like after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors are able to detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They can be used to detect cardiac disease when there is a reason to be concerned. If your cardiologist has determined that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the counter decongestants, and reducing stress may aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough water can help reduce the frequency of PVCs. If you are experiencing symptoms that are persistent or extreme, consult your physician about the medications that could be able to control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs aren't causing symptoms or happen rarely generally, they don't require treatment. If they happen frequently, your doctor might need to examine for heart problems or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or is beating faster. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more common in people who have other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and might occur more frequently during exercises. A physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. They should also conduct an exercise stress test to determine whether the additional beats are caused by physical activity. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion studies can be conducted to determine other reasons for the extra beats. Most people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can live an ordinary life. They could increase the risk of dangerous heart rhythm disorders particularly if they develop in certain patterns. In some cases, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and has difficulty pumping blood throughout your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet will lower your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as restrict your intake of tobacco and caffeine. Also, you should try to sleep enough and manage stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk of PVCs. So if you take one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from high PVC burdens (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was discovered. Certain people may require an organ transplant.