Help understanding 3 day holter results?

[HeartDinger]

I've been waiting 8 months for heart tests due to 2 emergency hospital trips of a sustained heart rate of 150+. I received the communication between doctors later but don't know when I'll see the clinician.

It says it was largely reassuring with an average heart rate of 81bmp, 1 episode of sinus tachycardia at 151bpm, a single SVE and rare multi focal VE's. Does anyone know what any of this means? It's also worth noting the recorder only recorded for 2 days not 3. Any info would be appreciated thank you!

[Hidden]

With the caveat that I’m not medically qualified, and you should confirm what the results mean with a medical professional…

As far as I understand, these results show nothing of particular note. An average heart rate under 100bpm means that there was no obvious issue with frequent tachycardia or tachycardic arrhythmias. There was one spell of sinus tachycardia where your heart rate was 151bpm, although it doesn’t say for how long the episode lasted. That it was sinus simply means a fast heart rate in normal rhythm, and can be an entirely appropriate response depending on the circumstances: an elevated heart rate with exercise, or as the result of stress/emotional upset, would be wholly appropriate sinus tachycardia. You had a single, supraventricular ectopic, also often referred to as a PAC or premature atrial contraction, and rare - which I’m interpreting to mean infrequent, as multifocal VEs are a common occurrence for lots of people - multifocal ventricular ectopics. Ventricular ectopics are often also referred to as PVCs, or premature ventricular contractions. PVCs can be unifocal, meaning they all originate from the same place, or multifocal, meaning they originate from different places within the heart. Yours originated from more than one place.

Generally speaking, neither PVCs nor PACs are cause for concern, unless they’re either extremely frequent i.e. accounting for more than 10% of all beats, so several thousand a day, or you have runs of multiple PVCs in a row. Both PVCs and PACs are extremely common, often referred to on here as ectopics or ectopic beats, and there is a belief that almost everyone experiences them. The difference between individuals is that some people may have an awareness of them occurring, as they can present as palpitations, and that they can be triggers for episodes of underlying arrhythmia for those prone. Both AF and SVT are triggered by premature contractions.

[HeartDinger in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response! Judging by the timing of the sinus tachycardia it occurred whilst I was out shopping so walking a lot. I will hopefully see my clinician whenever they give me my appointment! I've been rushed to hospital twice with prolonged episodes of sinus tachycardia of 150+ bpm for 8 hours but the cause is possibly my medication which I've reduced by 90% I'm on the last 10% reduction now! I did drink alcohol whilst wearing the heart monitor as it was a friend's birthday so I'm thinking that could have possibly caused ectopics, only a couple drinks but I barely drink anymore