How is ectopic heartbeat diagnosed?

How is ectopic heartbeat diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and listen to your heart. They’ll do a test called an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). This 15-minute test monitors your heart rate using sensors that attach to your skin. You get this test in your healthcare provider’s office.

If the EKG doesn’t detect an irregular heartbeat, your healthcare provider may recommend a Holter monitor, which is a type of ambulatory monitor. This portable device records your heart rate along with any irregular heartbeats. How long you wear a Holter depends on how frequently these irregular beats occur. These can be worn for two days or up to two weeks.