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How door and window doctor Can Affect Your Heart A lot of people experience occasional PVCs with no problems. 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 upper right part of your heart (the sinoatrial node, also known as SA) typically controls your heart's rhythm. Electrical signals travel to ventricles, or lower chambers of the heart. Causes PVCs occur when the electrical impulse that normally starts your heartbeat at a point called the sinus node (also called the sinoatrial node or SA node) doesn't. The impulse actually begins in the ventricles, which causes an untimed heartbeat. These extra beats, 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 and not cause any symptoms, but they may occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they happen frequently or cause dizziness, weakness, or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medicine. For the majority of people, PVCs are harmless and aren't likely to increase your risk of heart disease or other health problems. Frequent PVCs however, could weaken your heart muscle over time. This is especially relevant if the PVCs are triggered by a condition like dilated cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricle cardiomyopathy which can cause heart failure. PVCs can cause symptoms such as a feeling of your heart racing one beat, or even the feeling of your heart fluttering. You may also feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or eat or drink certain beverages or foods. PVCs are more prevalent for those who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress. Certain drugs, like digoxin, amiodarone and cocaine, may increase the risk of developing PVCs. If you experience occasional PVCs Your doctor might suggest lifestyle changes and medication. If they are a frequent occurrence, you may need to avoid some drinks and foods like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce your stress levels by having enough sleep and working out. If you have many PVCs Your doctor may suggest a medical procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells that are responsible for them. The procedure is carried out by a specialist known as an electrophysiologist. The treatment is usually effective in treating PVCs which reduce symptoms, but it does not stop them from returning in the future. In certain cases, it may increase the risk of having atrial fibrillation (AFib), an illness that can lead to stroke. This isn't common however it could be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions or PVCs, can make your heart seem to flutter or skip the beat. These extra heartbeats are harmless, but you might need to see your doctor when they occur frequently or if you are experiencing symptoms like dizziness or fatigue. Normally, electrical signals begin at the sinoatrial junction, located in the top right side of the heart. They travel down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) that pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel blood into the lungs, and then return to your heart to start the next cycle of pumping. However, a PVC begins in a different place and is located in the bundle of fibers called the Purkinje fibers, in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen they can make the heart appear to be beating faster or slower. If you have only a few episodes, and there are no other symptoms your cardiologist may not prescribe treatment. If you've got a lot of PVCs the doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to measure the heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. They might also recommend wearing a Holter monitor, which will record the heart's rhythm over time to see how many PVCs you have. People who have had a previous heart attack or suffer from cardiomyopathy -an illness that affects how the heart pumps blood- must be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. This includes the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, reducing stress and anxiety and getting enough rest. A cardiologist can prescribe beta blockers to slow the heartbeat. If you are experiencing frequent PVCs, even if you do not have other symptoms, you should consult a cardiologist. These extra heartbeats can be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or to other health conditions and, over time, when they happen frequently enough, they can weaken the heart muscle. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not experience any problems. They just want to be aware that the fluttering or skippy heartbeats aren't typical. Diagnosis PVCs can be akin to heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often might feel faint. Exercise can trigger PVCs, but a lot of athletes who experience them do not have heart or health issues. PVCs could show up in tests like an electrocardiogram (ECG) or Holter monitor. These use sticky patches with sensors that record electrical signals from your heart. A cardiologist may also use an ultrasound echocardiogram to study the heart. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to determine if a person is suffering from PVCs through a medical history and physical examination. Sometimes however, they might only be able to detect PVCs when they examine the patient for another reason, such as after an accident or surgical procedure. Ambulatory ECG monitoring systems also assist in detecting PVCs and other arrhythmias, and could be utilized in the event of any suspicion of cardiac disease. If your cardiologist determines that your heart is structurally normal, reassurance is the only remedy required. If your symptoms are causing discomfort or cause you to feel anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and other decongestants as well as reducing stress levels can help. Engaging in regular exercise, keeping at a healthy weight and drinking enough fluids can reduce your episodes of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help control the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they rarely require 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 to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs in your heart, the electrical signal which creates your heartbeat is located outside of the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This can make it feel like your heart skips a beat or has extra beats. It's unclear what causes these, but they're more frequent in those with other heart problems. PVCs are more likely to occur as you age, and may be more frequent during exercises. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs doctors should conduct an ECG and an echocardiogram to determine if there is a structural heart problem. They will probably also do an exercise stress test to see whether the additional beats are a result of 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 don't experience any problems and can enjoy a normal lifestyle. However, they may increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems especially if you are suffering from certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is unable to pump blood throughout your body. A regular, healthy diet and plenty of exercise can reduce the chances of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in sodium and fat as well as reduce your intake of caffeine and tobacco. You should also try to get enough sleep and reduce stress. Certain medicines can also increase your risk for PVCs. If you're taking one of these medicines it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations about a healthy diet, exercise and taking your medication. In studies of patients suffering from PVC burdens that are excessive (more than 20% of the total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced cardiac myopathy was found. This can result in the need for a heart transplant in certain patients.