help with holter monitor results

[css03]

I just got my holter monitor report and it said I had 4351 ventricular ectopy...this seems like a lot is it dangerous??? I also had 3 supraventricular ectopies...I have been having really bad chest pressure everyday which is why they ordered the test. Are these really normal results?

[is_something_wrong]

Well, 4.300 PVCs during 24 hours aren't "normal" (which means it's more than usual) but not necessarily dangerous. That said, you should insist further testing to see if there is a cause for your fairly high amount of PVCs.

Did a cardiologist interpret your Holter test? It's fairly important to classify the PVCs; where they did origin, when (during rest or exercise) and how they were related to the previous heartbeat, if they did occur in singles, pairs or runs, etc.

Are you living a stressful life? Anxiety? Caffeine?

If you have a "really bad chest pressure" (as you stated in your post) you should get that echo done without too much delay. There are other heart conditions than angina that should be ruled out (unless there is an obvious cause for the chest pressure, like anxiety). I don't mean to scare you, but chest symptoms in combination with frequent PVCs should definitely be investigated further.

[MichelleP_3811]

You should insist on an echo then.  I know if I get a lot of the pvcs I will get some chest pain though kind of more local like someone is poking me with a stick but depending where your issue is may be why you are feeling the squeezing pain.  How does the pain feel in the morning or do you have it all the time?  If I get the chest pains it generally is gone after a good nights sleep.  Well anyways, 4000 is a lot to deal with but not considered in the danger zone for cardiologist but that doesn't make living with them any easier.  Do your best to try and find some stress and anxiety relief.  It is likely making your situation worse.  Try some deep breathing, listen to relaxing music, put on a funny movie.  If you need to find someone to talk to then do that as well.  Whatever you can do to release and relax will help you tremedously.   Hang in there, hopefully things will start to get better for you soon.  Take care.

[css03]

I have had a stress test and an angiogram in the past year and a half.  I am only 36 but have ongoing chest discomfort for 2 years with no answers.  I just thought 4000 something abnormal beats sound like a lot. I do have a ton of stress and anxiety especially lately so maybe that contributed.  Just trying to figure out the whole chest discomfort squeezing pain that has debilitated me terribly for the last month!

[MichelleP_3811]

Was this a 24 hour or 48 hour holter report?  Either way they aren't dangerous.  The amonut you are getting I wouldn't say is normal but my cardiologist wouldn't even discuss intervention unless I was have 20,000 or more a day.  If you are having symptoms that are disrupting your life you can try beta blockers to help alleviate the symptoms but the key is to try and see if you can find a root cause.  If you haven't been tested you should probably have your heart evaluated.  A stress and echo test will determine if your heart is structurally healthy.  If it is then it is a matter of trying to find the triggers to the ectopics.  Stress and anxiety are the biggest triggers for them.  Stomach ailments can bring them on.  If your electrolytes are out of balance that can have an affect to, especially calcium, potassium and magnesium.   But just to ease your mind, isolated ectopics only pose a health risk if they progress to ventricular tachycardia which is rare for that to happen or if they are found in an unhealthy heart.  That said, just because they are usually of no consequence doesn't make living with them any easier for us that have them but you are not alone.  People generally go through phases where they can get them pretty bad and then they seem to disappear.  So go get your heart checked if you haven't already and then try to do your best to find your personal triggers and work through them (especially stress) to see if it helps your symptoms.  Take care, I hope you feel better soon and keep us posted on how you are doing.