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How a VC Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs and have no issues. If they are frequent, PVCs may weaken your heart and increase your chance of suffering from heart failure. The rhythm of your heart is usually controlled by a group of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner of your heart. This is called the sinoatrial node or SA. Electrical signals are transmitted to the ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse which normally starts your heartbeat at the Sinus Node (also known as the Sinoatrial or SA node) does not. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes a mistimed heartbeat. These extra beats are called ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation. It may feel like the heart beats faster or feels fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they may also happen frequently enough to impact your quality of life. If they are very frequent or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor could treat them with medicine. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and don't increase your risk of developing heart disease or other health problems. Over time, repeated PVCs can weaken the heart muscle. This is especially relevant if they are triggered by a heart-related condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, which can lead to symptomatic heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart beating one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering can be more evident when you exercise or consume certain drinks or foods. People with chronic anxiety or stress may have more PVCs, and some medications such as amiodarone, digoxin, and cocaine can increase the likelihood of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes and medicines. If they're a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid certain foods and beverages like alcohol and caffeine. You can also lower stress by taking enough rest and working out. If you have lots of PVCs The doctor may suggest a medical treatment called radiofrequency catheter ablation. This eliminates the cells that cause PVCs. Electrophysiologists are the ones who perform this procedure. It is generally 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 result in stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs may cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should consult your physician if you have frequent episodes or other symptoms such as dizziness or weakness. Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right side of the heart, and travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. The ventricles expand to force blood into the lungs. They return to the center to begin the next cycle of pumping. But a PVC starts in a different location, from the bundle of fibers known as the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may feel as if it's racing or pounding. If you've experienced a few episodes and no other symptoms, your doctor probably won't be able to treat you. If you've got a number of PVCs and you have other symptoms, your doctor might recommend an electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG to gauge your heart rate over 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor that records your heartbeat over time to determine how many PVCs you have. Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -which alters the way the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include cutting down on caffeine, alcohol and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist may also prescribe medication to slow the heartbeat, for example, beta blockers. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs even if don't have any other signs, you should see an expert in cardiology. These irregular heartbeats could point to problems with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions, and over time, when they are frequent enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs don't experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering and racing heartbeats aren't normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that are fluttering particularly if they're frequent and intense. People who experience them regularly may feel weak. Exercise can trigger them, but most athletes who experience them do not have heart or health problems. PVCs could show up in tests such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These are sticky patches that have sensors on them to record electrical impulses from your heart. A cardiologist could also employ an echocardiogram, which uses ultrasound to examine the heart and determine how it's functioning. A doctor is often able to tell whether a patient has PVCs by conducting a thorough examination and taking a medical history. However, sometimes they will only be able to detect them when they examine the patient for other reasons, such as after a surgery or accident. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs as well as other arrhythmias. They are able to detect cardiac disease when there is a concern. If your cardiologist determines your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance could be all that's needed. If your symptoms are bothersome, or cause you to be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could help. Getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, and drinking enough water can also decrease the likelihood of PVCs. If the symptoms persist or are severe, speak to your doctor about treatments that could help control these symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require treatment. If they are frequent, your doctor might be able to look for heart issues or suggest lifestyle changes. You could also have a procedure (called radiofrequency cathode ablation) to eliminate of them. If you suffer from 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. This can cause your heart to feel like it skips beats or has additional beats. PVCs are more prevalent among people suffering from heart disease, but it's not known the reason behind them. PVCs may increase in frequency as you age, and they could be more frequent during exercise. If a patient experiences frequent and painful PVCs, a physician 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 in order to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical activity. To find out whether there are other reasons for the extra beats, a heart catheterization or cardiac MRI could be conducted. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not suffer from any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. But they can increase the risk of developing dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means that the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump 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, and limit your intake of tobacco and caffeine. It is also important to get enough sleep and manage stress. Some medicines may also increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medications, it is important that you follow the advice of your doctor about eating healthy exercising, as well as taking your medication. In studies of patients with PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of heartbeats), a higher rate arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. www.repairmywindowsanddoors.co.uk may need an organ transplant.