Help interpreting a Kardia report.

Yesterday I posted here to say that I had had lots of ectopics shortly after drinking some beer. I sent a Kardia reading off for analysis; this was taken several hours later and followed what I experienced as ectopics followed by a very slow heartbeat for about 15 seconds. The report has now come back. It doesn’t indicate AF and doesn’t sound too bad, but I would appreciate some help interpreting some of the comments:

RATE: NORMAL

NEEDS REVIEW

Significant ECG abnormality observed. Forward this report to your physician for his/her advice unless the abnormality is already known and been assessed/treated.

The 'normal' resting heart rate sits in a range of 60 - 99 beats per minute. Your heart rate is within normal limits.

NORMAL SINUS RHYTHM

Your heart is beating normally and is in Sinus rhythm with a rate of between 60 and 99 beats per minute.

MULTIPLE VENTRICULAR ECTOPICS

We have observed ventricular ectopics (VEs). These are extra beats originating in the bottom part of the heart. This is extremely common and can be a normal finding in healthy people.

VENTRICULAR BIGEMINY

You have Bigeminy which refers to an alternating extra beats then a normal beat. This may be normal but if you have symptoms of any sort that concern you you should consult a medical professional.

SINGLE MORPHOLOGY (SAME SHAPE)

Your Ventricular Ectopics come from a single site in the lower part of the heart.

NO ATRIAL ECTOPICS OBSERVED

A atrial ectopic (AE) is an extra beat originating in the top part of the heart. You have none which is completely normal.

NORMAL QRS PATTERN

The QRS morphology indicates how the bottom part of the heart (ventricles) contract. You are within normal limits

In particular, could anyone elaborate on the bigeminy. Also, what is, or might be, the significance of the ventricular ectopics. I would have thought with PAF, they would have come from the atrial area.

[Jong1945]

Samazeuilh, check the videos by Dr Sanjay Gupta on Youtube such as youtu.be/bwgDFHOkR20(Not working as expected?) The most significant thing for me in this report is not the report but the fact the ectopics started after a drink, possibly gassy? I had ectopics for years but it was only when Dr G suggested I try an antacid (I use Ranitidine) that my ectopics started to geg hnder control. On permanent ranitidine, I get almost no ectopics, and they were very bothersome before.

[Hidden]

Interpreting ECG’s (Kardia or conventional) is best left to qualified medics. Most GP’s will always refer to a specialist but some here may express a view.

[bantam12]

Bigeminy means every other beat you get an extra one, I have trigeminy so every third beat.

[Buffafly]

As I often say it doesn't matter what it is as long as you feel OK. I must admit it is nice to have a name for your heart's antics!

[CDreamer]

bigeminy = ectopics come in 2’s.

If you want explanations the Kardia has an excellent learning library accessible from the main menu - top left on mobile devices.

Everything else sounds really good. Ectopics can feel quite like AF, especially when they come in doubles or triples and some people can be quite symptomatic with them.

Personally I’m not in favour of taking any-acids long term as you need an acid stomach - the problem comes when acid is pushed up into the esophagus or gas (which shouldn’t be in the stomach) fills the stomach.

Certainly you could look at what, when and how much you eat and drink and experiment with having much smaller meals and looking at what you drink.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

“Certainly you could look at what, when and how much you eat and drink and experiment with having much smaller meals and looking at what you drink.”

That is a good suggestion. I have noticed that the ectopics are more common after large meals. It all points to vagal AF IMO.

[IanMK]

I agree with Flapjack. Your GP should refer you to your local cardiology department. Another option you may want to consider to get quicker peace of mind is to do some research to identify an electrophysiologist with a good reputation and have a private consultation. An initial consultation should only cost a couple of hundred pounds. Check to see if an ECG would be included otherwise this would bump up the cost.