What is a Holter monitor?
A Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) that continuously monitors your heart’s activity over a 24- or 48-hour period. The small device helps detect symptoms that come and go and may not show up on an ECG you have at your cardiologist’s office.
Holter monitors are one type of heart monitor (also called an event monitor) that your cardiologist can use to measure symptoms outside the office. Holter monitors can help if your symptoms are frequent. If they are not, a Holter monitor might miss them, and your provider may recommend another device that you wear for a longer period.
Why would I need a Holter monitor?
A regular ECG shows your heart’s activity at a single moment during the test. However, heart symptoms and irregular rhythms can come and go. That’s why your doctor may recommend monitoring your heartbeat over a longer period while you go about your normal daily activities.
A Holter monitor may be recommended if:
- You experience fast, slow or irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias
- Your doctor needs to check if your medications are working effectively
- You have symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or a sensation that your heart is racing or skipping beats
- There’s a need to determine if your heart is receiving enough oxygen to function properly
- Your care team wants to monitor your heart rate after you have a device, such as a pacemaker, implanted
- There’s a need to monitor your heart’s activity after a heart attack
Preparing for a Holter monitor test
A Holter monitor is about the size of a deck of cards. You wear it on a belt, around your neck or with a shoulder strap, and it connects to your chest through electrodes attached with small sticky pads.
Before your appointment, your technician may ask you to avoid applying lotions, oils or other skin care products, which may interfere with the sticky pads. You should also let the technician know if you have any allergies to tapes or adhesives.
If you have hair on your chest, the technician will shave the area before attaching the electrodes.
What to expect with a Holter monitor test
Understanding your Holter monitor results
Your healthcare provider will review the results of your Holter monitor test and go over them with you. The information from the test can help show if you have a heart condition and whether your current heart medications are working as they should.
If your test is “normal,” your doctor did not see any irregular heartbeats or significant changes in the ECG patterns over the study period. Abnormal results suggest that you may have an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Your cardiologist may schedule a follow-up visit to discuss additional testing options and potential treatments.
Find a location near you
Our cardiac technicians work with cardiologists at locations across Central and North Texas. We’ll work to arrange your appointments and follow-up care at a location convenient to you.
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