Holter Monitoring

Holter Monitoring

Home / Holter Monitoring

The Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the electrical activity of the heart continuously over 24 hours or longer while you are away from the doctor’s office. A standard or “resting” ECG is one of the simplest and fastest tests used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (small, plastic patches that stick to the skin) are placed at certain points on the chest and abdomen. The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine by wires. Then, the electrical activity of the heart can be measured, recorded, and printed. No electricity is sent into the body.

Natural electrical impulses coordinate contractions of the different parts of the heart. This keeps blood flowing the way it should. An ECG records these impulses to show how fast the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats (steady or irregular), and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses. Changes in an ECG can be a sign of many heart-related conditions.

Your healthcare provider may request a Holter monitor ECG if you have symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, ongoing fatigue (tiredness), and palpitations and a resting ECG doesn’t show a clear cause. You wear the same kind of ECG electrode patches on your chest, and the electrodes are connected by wires to a small, portable recording device.

Certain arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) may occur only now and then. Or, they may occur only under certain conditions, such as stress or activity. Arrhythmias of this type are hard to record on an ECG done in the office. Because of this, the healthcare provider might request a Holter monitor to get a better chance of capturing any abnormal heartbeats or rhythms that may be causing the symptoms. Some Holter monitors also have an event monitor feature that you activate when you notice symptoms.

What conditions can a Holter monitor find?

A Holter monitor can find the cause of:

Arrhythmia (heart rhythm abnormalities).
Heart palpitations.
Unexplained dizziness.

Your provider can also use a cardiac monitor to determine how well your:

The heart is getting oxygen.
Heart medications are working.
A pacemaker is working.

difference between an ECG and a Holter monitor?

An ECG measures your heart’s activity at that moment in time, as you’re having the test. But your heart’s rhythm and symptoms can change over the day.

Your doctor may want to see how your heartbeat changes during the day as you do your regular activities. The heart monitor gives your doctor a fuller picture of your heart rhythm. A Holter monitor records your heart continuously for 24 or 48 hours. It only records your heart’s activity when you feel symptoms and activate the monitor.

What should I expect when wearing the Holter monitor?

A technician connects you to the heart monitor and provides instructions. Here’s what you can expect:

Attach the electrodes: The technician attaches the electrodes to your chest. The electrodes are small, round, sticky patches. They might need to shave your chest to make sure the electrodes stay attached.
Place the monitor: The technician helps you put on the monitor and connect it to the electrodes. They explain how to take care of the monitor.
Store the monitor: You can carry the heart monitor in a pocket or bag. Or you can wear it on a strap, like a purse. You can also wear it on your waist.
Go about your day: You can do most of your usual activities while you wear the monitor.
Keep an activity and symptom diary: Your technician explains how to keep track of your activities and symptoms. Write down symptoms such as shortness of breath, skipped or uneven heartbeats and chest pain. Jot down when the symptoms happened and what you were doing. Your provider will compare changes in your EGC with your symptoms and activities.