A Holter ECG monitor is a type of heart monitor that records your heart’s activity over 1 to 7 days. If you have an irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations, but an EKG didn’t detect anything, a cardiac monitor can help diagnose the problem. You wear the Holter monitor while you do your daily activities. Your provider discusses the results with you.
What is a Holter monitor?
A Holter monitor is a wearable device and type of ambulatory electrocardiogram that records your heart’s rhythm and rate activity. It gives your provider a full picture of what your heart rhythm and rate does as you go about your life.
- Small, about the size of a cellphone.
- Battery operated.
- Equipped with wires and electrodes (small patches) that stick to your skin.
A Holter monitor records your heart’s electrical activity for 1-7 days hours. While you wear it, you continue to do your regular daily activities. The Holter monitor is named for Dr. Norman J. Holter, who created it in the 1950s.
-
Does wearing a Holter monitor hurt?:
No, wearing a Holter monitor isn’t painful. - Who needs a Holter monitor?: You may need a Holter monitor if you have an inconclusive electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a type of heart test. An inconclusive EKG means it didn’t provide clear results. Maybe you saw your doctor because of signs of a heart rhythm problem — like your heart is racing or fluttering. Or you had unexplained fainting. Your provider decided to do an EKG to find the problem. But the EKG only records your heart for a short period. Heart symptoms don’t always happen while you’re in the provider’s office. If the EKG doesn’t tell your provider what they need to know, a Holter monitor can help. It gathers more information about your heart’s activity. You wear it for a full day or two, giving it more chances to spot unusual activity.
- What conditions can a Holter monitor find?:A Holter monitor can find the cause of : Arrhythmia (heart rhythm abnormalities) \ Heart palpitations \ Unexplained dizziness.
A Holter monitor records your heart’s electrical activity for 1-7 days hours. While you wear it, you continue to do your regular daily activities. The Holter monitor is named for Dr. Norman J. Holter, who created it in the 1950s.
- Heart is getting oxygen.
- Heart medications are working.
- Pacemaker is working.
When would a Holter monitor not be appropriate?
What’s the difference between an EKG and a Holter monitor?
What’s the difference between Holter and event monitoring?
TEST DETAILS
How do I prepare for a Holter monitor?
After 24 hours, you can remove the device and BP cuff and return the equipment to your clinic or doctor’s office. A computer analyzes the readings and generates results.