In many cases, there are no symptoms. When symptoms do occur they can include:
- Feeling the heart beating (palpitations)
- Feeling of a skipped or missed heart beat
In people with heart disease, PVBs can cause decreased blood flow from the heart to other parts of the body. This can produce dizziness and fainting.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. If you have heart disease, you should see a cardiologist.
Tests may include:
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Lab Tests
- Electrolyte levels, especially potassium and magnesium
- For medication levels in people taking medication that may affect heart rhythms
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Electrocardiogram (ECG)
—shows the electrical activity of the heart rhythm and rate.
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Ambulatory or holter monitoring
—continuous cardiac monitoring. This may be used if you have symptoms but heart rhythm disturbance does not show up on an ECG. This type of monitoring is helpful because it measures heart activity over a longer period of time.
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Echocardiogram
—shows an image and function of heart structures using ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves).