How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people experience occasional PVCs without any problems. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase the chance of suffering from heart failure. https://www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk/window-doctor-folkestone/ is controlled by a group of fibers that are located in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial nerve, or SA. Electrical signals travel from there to the lower chambers of your heart, or ventricles. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also called the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse begins in a different part of your heart, the ventricles, and causes an untimed beat. These extra beats, called ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation, may feel like your heart skipped a beat or is fluttering. They can happen infrequently, causing no symptoms, but they can occur frequently enough to impact your quality of living. Your doctor may prescribe medicine if they are frequent or cause weakness, dizziness or fatigue. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health issues. In time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is particularly when the PVCs are caused by conditions like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can lead to heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart beats faster or it flutters. You may feel breathless. The fluttering can be more apparent when you exercise, or consume certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent in people with chronic anxiety or stress. Certain medications, such as digoxin, amiodarone or cocaine, can also increase their risk. If you have occasional PVCs your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your doctor may recommend avoiding certain foods and drinks, such as alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower your stress levels by having enough sleep and exercising. If you've got a lot of PVCs Your doctor might suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. This is done by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. It is generally successful in treating the PVCs and reducing symptoms, however it does not stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which is a condition that can lead to stroke. It is not common but it could be life-threatening. Signs and symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs, can make your heart seem to skip or flutter one beat. These heartbeats can be harmless, but it is important to talk to your doctor when you experience frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness. Normaly, electrical signals begin in the sinoatrial, located in the upper right corner of the heart. They then travel to the lower chambers, also known as ventricles, where blood pumps are located. The ventricles expand to pump blood into the lungs. They then return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins at a different spot that is separate from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, located in the bottom left portion of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you have just a few episodes but no other symptoms, your cardiologist probably won't treat you. However, if you have large number of PVCs the doctor may recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, to measure your heart rate over a 24-hour period. He or she might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that will track 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 the heart's blood flow - should take their PVCs seriously and speak to an expert in cardiology about lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist might also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat for example, beta blockers. Even if you don't have any other indications, you should still get PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These irregular heartbeats could be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they are frequent enough, they may weaken the heart muscle. Most people with PVCs do not experience 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 during training, even though many athletes who experience them don't have any problems with their heart or health. PVCs may show up in tests like an electrocardiogram or Holter monitor. They use sticky patches with sensors to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist may also perform an echocardiogram, which makes use of ultrasound to look at the heart and observe how it's working. A doctor may be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. But sometimes they might only notice them while examining the patient for other reasons, for instance after an accident or surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems can also aid in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias and could be utilized when there is a concern of a cardiac condition. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance may be all you need. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding caffeine, alcohol and over-the-counter decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Regular exercise, being at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If your symptoms persist or severe, talk to your doctor about medications that may be able to reduce them. Treatment If PVCs do not cause any symptoms or occur rarely, they usually don't need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and suggest lifestyle changes or medications. You may also undergo a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate them. If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which causes your heartbeat begins somewhere other than at the sinoatrial (SA) node located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. It can feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. They're more common among people who suffer from heart issues, but it's not known what causes them. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more frequently during exercising. If a patient has frequent and painful PVCs the doctor should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor will also likely conduct an exercise stress test to determine if the additional heartbeats are due to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be done to look for other reasons for the increased beats. Most people with PVCs do not experience any issues and can live an ordinary life. However, they may increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. 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 the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium and limit caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to sleep enough and reduce stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk of getting PVCs. If you're taking one of these medications it is important to follow your doctor's instructions about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. Studies of patients with a high burden of PVCs (that's more than 20% of their total heart beats) found that they had a higher risk of arrhythmia-induced cardiomyopathy. This can result in a need for a heart transplant in certain individuals.