What do my 7‑day mobile telemetry results—normal sinus node and atrioventricular node function, mild ventricular ectopy (~1% of beats), six brief narrow‑complex tachycardia episodes (<1% of recording time), and a single light‑headedness event with an isolated premature ventricular contraction—indicate, and what is the appropriate management?

What Your Heart Monitor Results Mean

Your 7-day heart monitor shows mostly normal findings with occasional extra heartbeats that are common and typically benign—the single episode of lightheadedness you recorded corresponded to a normal heart rhythm with one isolated extra beat, suggesting your symptoms are unlikely to be caused by a dangerous heart rhythm problem. 1

Understanding Your Results in Plain Language

The Normal Parts

• Your heart's natural pacemaker (sinoatrial node) works perfectly, with your heart rate ranging from 54 to 128 beats per minute and averaging 76 bpm—all completely normal ranges. 1

• The electrical connection between your heart's upper and lower chambers (atrioventricular node) conducts normally, meaning signals travel properly through your heart. 1

The Extra Beats Explained

Ventricular ectopy (extra beats from the lower chambers):

• You had a "mild burden" at 1.2% of total heartbeats—this means roughly 1 out of every 83 heartbeats was an extra beat from the ventricles. 2
• In people with structurally normal hearts, these extra beats are extremely common and generally benign, especially at this low frequency. 3, 2
• These beats are so common that they're found on Holter monitors at all ages, particularly in older adults. 2

Brief episodes of fast heart rhythm (narrow complex tachycardia):

• You had 6 short episodes totaling less than 1% of the monitoring time—the longest lasted only 16.2 seconds with a maximum rate of 156 bpm. 1
• These brief runs are often benign, especially when they're short, infrequent, and you have no structural heart disease. 3, 1

Your Symptom Event

The most important finding: when you felt lightheaded and pressed the event button, your heart was in normal rhythm (69 bpm) with just one isolated extra beat. 1 This strongly suggests that your lightheadedness is NOT being caused by a dangerous heart rhythm problem. 3, 1

Recommended Management

Immediate Steps

First, address reversible triggers that can cause extra heartbeats: 1, 4

• Stop all caffeine (coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate)
• Eliminate or significantly reduce alcohol
• Avoid nicotine products completely
• Review all medications and supplements with your doctor—some can trigger extra beats
• Ensure adequate sleep and manage stress

Check for metabolic causes: 4

• Have your doctor check potassium and magnesium levels (deficiencies commonly cause extra beats)
• Get thyroid function tested (hyperthyroidism can cause palpitations and extra beats)

Medical Treatment Options

If symptoms persist after lifestyle modifications, beta-blockers are the preferred first-line medication to reduce extra beats and control symptoms. 3, 4 Common options include metoprolol or atenolol.

Important safety note: You should NOT be started on stronger antiarrhythmic medications (like flecainide, propafenone, sotalol, or amiodarone) without further testing to confirm you have no structural heart disease, as these carry significant risks. 3, 1

When to Seek Further Evaluation

You should see a cardiologist promptly if you experience: 1

• Syncope (complete loss of consciousness) or near-syncope
• Chest pain or significant shortness of breath with palpitations
• Palpitations that occur specifically during exercise
• Frequent episodes that significantly interfere with daily life

You likely do NOT need immediate specialist referral because: 1

• Your symptoms are infrequent
• The documented episode showed normal rhythm
• You have no high-risk features (no syncope, no chest pain, no exertional symptoms)
• The extra beats are at a low burden (1.2%)

Ongoing Monitoring

Continue to monitor your symptoms and note: 1

• Frequency and duration of episodes
• What you're doing when they occur (rest, exercise, after meals, etc.)
• Associated symptoms (dizziness, chest discomfort, shortness of breath)

If episodes become more frequent or severe, extended monitoring with an event recorder may be more useful than another Holter monitor, as it can capture less frequent events over weeks to months. 1

What This Means for Your Health

The good news: Your heart's basic electrical system works normally, and the extra beats you're having are at a low level that is typically benign in people without heart disease. 3, 2

The reassuring finding: Your documented symptom of lightheadedness occurred during normal heart rhythm, making it unlikely that a heart rhythm problem is causing your dizziness. 1

Next steps: Focus on eliminating triggers (caffeine, alcohol, stress), correct any electrolyte or thyroid abnormalities, and consider a trial of beta-blocker therapy if symptoms persist despite these measures. 1, 4

When to worry: If you develop syncope (complete blackout), chest pain, or shortness of breath with palpitations, seek immediate medical attention, as these could indicate a more serious problem. 1