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How window doctors near me Can Affect Your Heart Many people have occasional PVCs without any problems. But if they occur frequently, PVCs can weaken your heart muscle and increase your risk of heart failure. The heart's rhythm is controlled by a bundle of nerve fibers situated in the upper right corner of your heart. This is known as the sinoatrial node, or SA. Electrical signals travel to the ventricles or lower chambers of your heart. Causes PVCs happen when the electrical impulse that normally initiates your heartbeat in a part called the sinus node (also known as the sinoatrial or SA node) does not. Instead, the impulse starts in a different area of your heart, the ventricles, and causes a mistimed beat. These extra beats, also known as ventricular tachycardia, or ventricular fibrillation, could feel as if your heart skipped a beat, or it feels like it is like it is fluttering. They can happen infrequently without causing any symptoms, but they could occur frequently enough to affect your quality of life. If they occur frequently or cause dizziness, weakness or fatigue, your doctor may treat them with medication. 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, may weaken your heart muscle over time. This is particularly true if they are caused by a heart condition such as dilated cardiomyopathy or arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy which could lead to symptoms of heart failure. The symptoms of PVCs include feeling like your heart skips a beat or it flutters. You may feel exhausted. The fluttering may be more apparent when you exercise or consume certain drinks or food items. People who suffer from chronic anxiety or stress can have more PVCs, and some medications like amiodarone digoxin, and cocaine may increase the chance of developing them. If you have occasional PVCs Your doctor may suggest lifestyle changes and medications. If you are prone to frequent PVCs, your physician may recommend that you avoid certain foods and drinks, like caffeine and alcohol. You can also reduce stress by taking enough rest and exercising. If you have a lot of PVCs, your doctor may suggest a medical procedure known as radiofrequency catheter ablation. It eliminates the cells responsible for them. Electrophysiologists are the ones who execute this procedure. It is generally effective in treating PVCs and reducing symptoms, but it doesn't stop them from recurring in the future. In some cases, it can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AFib) which could lead to stroke. It's not common, but it can be life-threatening. Symptoms Premature ventricular contractions, or PVCs can cause your heart to skip or to flutter. These extra heartbeats are generally harmless, but you should talk to your doctor in case you experience frequent episodes or signs like dizziness or weakness. The electrical signals typically begin at the sinoatrial junction, which is in the top right portion of the heart. They move down to the lower chambers (or ventricles) which pump blood. Then, the ventricles contract to propel the blood into your lungs and then return to your heart and start the next pumping cycle. However, a PVC begins in a different location that is separate from the bundle of fibers, known as the Purkinje fibers in the left-hand side of the heart. When PVCs happen, the heart may appear to be skipping a beat or pounding. If you have only one or two episodes, and there are no other symptoms, your cardiologist will probably not prescribe treatment. If you've got a lot of PVCs, your doctor may recommend that you undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor your heartbeat for a period of 24 hours. The doctor may also recommend wearing a Holter Monitor, which records the heart's rhythm and count the number of PVCs. Anyone who has had a previous heart attack or have cardiomyopathy — a condition that affects the way that the heart pumps bloodand should be aware of their PVCs and talk to a cardiologist about lifestyle changes. These include abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, and smoking, managing stress and anxiety, as well as getting enough rest. A cardiologist might prescribe medication to slow heartbeat, such as a beta blocker. Even if you don't have any other signs it is still recommended to have PVCs examined by an expert in cardiology if they occur frequently. These extra heartbeats may be a sign of a problem with the structure of your heart or lungs and if they occur often enough, can weaken your heart muscle. But most people with PVCs don't have any issues. They would like to know if irregular heartbeats or fluttering is normal. Diagnosis PVCs can feel like heartbeats that flutter, especially if they are frequent and intense. People who experience them often may feel weak. They can also occur during exercise, though many athletes who experience them don't have issues with their health or heart. PVCs may show up on tests such as an electrocardiogram or a Holter monitor. They have sensors that 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 functioning. Most of the time, a doctor will be able to identify if a person has PVCs from a history and physical exam. Sometimes it is possible that they only notice PVCs when examining patients for a different reason, such as after an accident or a surgery. Ambulatory ECG monitors can detect PVCs and other arrhythmias. They are able to detect heart disease if there is any concern. If your cardiologist concludes that your heart is structurally healthy, reassurance might be all that's needed. If your symptoms are troubling or make you be anxious, avoiding alcohol, caffeine, and over the drug decongestants and the reduction of stress could aid. Regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and drinking enough fluids can aid in reducing the frequency of PVCs. If your symptoms are persistent or severe, speak to your doctor about medications that could help reduce the symptoms. Treatment If PVCs are rare or don't cause symptoms, they do not usually need treatment. If you have them often or frequently, your doctor may wish to examine for any other heart problems and recommend lifestyle changes or medications. You could also have a procedure to get rid of them (called radiofrequency catheter ablation). If you have PVCs in your heart the electrical signal that triggers your heartbeat starts somewhere different than the sinoatrial (SA) node, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of your heart. This could cause your heart to feel as if it skips a beating or has extra beats. It's not known what causes them, but they're more common in people with other heart issues. PVCs are more frequent with age and might happen more often during exercising. If a patient is experiencing frequent and painful PVCs, a physician should perform an ECG and an echocardiogram to rule out heart disease that is structural. The doctor may also perform an exercise stress test to determine if the extra heartbeats are related to physical exercise. A heart catheterization, cardiac MRI or nuclear perfusion study can be performed to find other reasons for the increased beats. Most people who suffer from PVCs do not have any issues and can live the normal life. However, they can increase your risk of having dangerous heart rhythm problems particularly if you have certain patterns of them. In some instances, this means the heart muscle gets weaker and is having difficulty pumping blood through your body. Regular exercise and a balanced diet can reduce your risk of developing PVCs. Avoid foods that are high in fat and sodium, and limit your consumption of caffeine and tobacco. Also, you should try to get enough rest and manage stress. Certain medications can increase your risk for PVCs. If you are taking any of these medicines, it is important to follow your doctor's recommendations regarding eating a healthy diet, exercising, and taking your medication. In studies of patients with high PVC burdens (more than 20% of total heartbeats) the higher rate of arrhythmia-induced myopathy in the heart was observed. Some people may need an organ transplant.