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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they happen frequently, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the risk for heart failure. The heart's rhythm is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs are caused by the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or the SA node) is not initiated. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, also called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is fluttering. They may happen rarely and cause no symptoms, or they can happen often enough to affect your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication. In most people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health issues. A lot of PVCs, however, can weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right-ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can cause heart failure. PVCs can trigger symptoms like a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even fluttering. It is also possible to feel breathless. The fluttering can be more noticeable when you exercise or consume certain foods or drinks. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Some medications, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you experience occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medication. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods 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 might suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is usually successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however, it doesn't prevent them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), a condition that can cause stroke. This isn't common, but it can be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These heartbeats can be harmless, however, you should talk to your doctor if you have frequent episodes or symptoms like dizziness or weakness. Normally, electrical signals start at the sinoatrial junction, located in the upper right-hand side of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles expand to push blood into your lungs and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. A PVC begins at a different spot, the Purkinje fibers are located in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen they can make the heart feel like it is racing or pounding. If you have only one or two episodes, and no other symptoms are present your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you've got a number of PVCs, the doctor may suggest an electrocardiogram, or ECG to determine the heart's rate over 24 hours. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track your heart rhythm over time to determine how many PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a prior heart attack or have cardiomyopathy — a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand must be aware of their PVCs and talk to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. These include avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety, and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, such as a beta blocker. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if you do not have other symptoms you should see an expert in cardiology. These heartbeats that are irregular 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 experience any problems. They would like to know if fluttering heartbeats or skipping heartbeats is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering especially if they are frequent and intense. Patients who have a lot of them might feel like they're about to faint. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs can show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that record electrical impulses coming from your heart. A cardiologist can also perform an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. A doctor is often able to tell the presence of PVCs by looking at them and taking a medical history. But sometimes they might only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, for instance after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and can be used if there's any concern of heart disease. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart's structure is normal, reassurance will be the only remedy required. If repairmywindowsanddoors are bothersome or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and other decongestants and reducing stress can aid. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, talk to your doctor about treatments that could help control them. Treatment If PVCs aren't common or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often and frequently, your doctor might want to check for other heart issues and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You might also get an operation to rid yourself of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs, the electrical signal that causes your heartbeat is generated from a place other than the sinoatrial node (SA node) located in the upper right side of your heart. This can cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has additional beats. PVCs are more frequent among those 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 exercise. A doctor should perform an ECG as well as an echocardiogram on a patient that suffers from frequent and painful PVCs to identify structural heart conditions. The doctor may also conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are related to physical activity. A heart catheterization or cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other causes for the increased beats. The majority of people who suffer from PVCs have no complications and can lead a normal life. But they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle becomes weaker and it is more difficult to pump blood throughout your body. A healthy, regular diet and plenty of exercise can reduce your chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. It is also important to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase the risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it's crucial to follow your doctor's instructions about eating well, exercising and taking your medication. Studies of patients who had a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher incidence of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. Some patients may require a heart transplant.