What Does The Holter Monitor Test Result Indicate?

Posted on Sat, 25 Apr 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 25 Apr 2015 Answered on

Fri, 15 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question :
I had all cardiac testing done 2 months ago. Everything came back structurally normal with my heart. I have pacs and rare pvcs according to my holter monitor. I passed my stress test. My holter was always in sinus rythm. Something that worries me is the fact that my resting heart rate sometimes goes to 55 bpm. My cardiologist says there is no heart block and no SSS. He says my heart is normal and I am healthy. This scares me. Is this normal? During sleep my bpm went down to 41. My 48 hour holter said 26 % of the time in bradycardia and 13 % tachycardia. My cardiologist says this is all normal. Is this a common finding?
Also this morning when I woke up I had a lot of etopic beats for over an hour and alternating between slight bradycardia and some faster beats. My cardiologist says everything is from anxiety and some acid reflux but I woke up calm

Answered by Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes Everything looks normal

Detailed Answer:
Yes in absence of symptoms and structurally normal heart your holter finding are normal. As technically any hr <60 bpm would be labeled as bradycardia and anything more than 100 will be labeled as tachycardia and during normal day out heart rate does vary above and below these limits and that's why a report. early in morning and immediately after getting up in circadian rhythm nature prepares us for day and there will be adrenargic surge which makes heart to beat little erratically and produce ectopics which will manifest as Vpcs and apcs and nothing to worry about

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (6 hours later)

Hi Doctor Thank you for your response. I also get the etopic beats sometimes before bed. I can deal with them as long as I'm sure they are benign. My cardiologist says I shouldn't worry but with the etopic beats and slight bradycardia I get nervous. I do suffer from anxiety which he said makes my symptoms worse so I have started CBT therapy. My cardiologist told me that benign arythmia can cause more symptoms than a serious arythmia. Is that correct?

Also doctor is it dangerous when I wake up in the morning and have the erratic heart beats?

Answered by Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (39 hours later)

Brief Answer:
True Many times

Detailed Answer:
it's true that people are more symptomatic with benign arrhythmia than serious sometime. most of the times its persons response than symptom of arrhythmia that's bothersome.
No, the kind of erratic heart beat that's present in your description is not dangerous. just learn to relax and you will be fine.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Pradeep Vitta

Follow up: Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (1 hour later)

Doctor Thank you very much for your response. One last question before I close the discussion. My cardiologist says I don't need a follow up with him because my heart is healthy and they are benign etopic beats. Do you agree with this and how long are my tests good for? Can something more serious develop in a short time period

Answered by Dr. Prabhakar C Koregol (14 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes, that is right

Detailed Answer:
Yes, once everything is evaluated and found to be normal, there may not be need for your revisit. you need to see your cardiologist only if there is change in the symptoms or any abnormal findings by physician.

Generally we recommend cardiac evaluation once in two years till about 40 yr and annually thereafter.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E