The vast majority of PVCs have no symptoms. However, individuals with PVCs may notice palpitations – a feeling that their heart is galloping, pounding or skipping beats. These palpitations may feel like the heart is wildly out of control, and they can be quite startling or frightening.

Other symptoms may also include chest pain, fainting spells (syncope) or sudden worsening palpitations. These symptoms may indicate more serious heart problems. People with any of these symptoms are urged to contact their physician immediately.

To diagnose PVSs, a physician will begin by obtaining the patient’s personal and family medical history and conducting a complete physical examination. As part of this examination, the physician may notice an irregular pulse, though blood pressure tends to be normal.

Additional tests that may be ordered include:

• Echocardiogram. This painless test uses sound waves to visualize the structures and functions of the heart. A moving image of the patient’s beating heart is displayed on a video screen, where a physician can study the heart’s thickness, size and function. The image also shows the motion pattern and structure of the four heart valves, revealing any potential leakage (regurgitation) or narrowing (stenosis). During this test, a Doppler ultrasound may also be done to evaluate cardiac blood flow.
  
  
  
  
  
• Exercise stress testing. Studies find that PVC symptoms which occur just after, rather than during, an exercise test may increase the overall risk of potentially fatal arrhythmias. In this case, an echocardiogram will be done in order to further analyze the heart’s function, and to help the physician plan any necessary treatments.