What is a Holter Monitor?
A Holter monitor is a small wearable device that records the rate and rhythm of your heartbeat over a continuous period. If a standard ECG (electrocardiogram, or EKG) does not provide enough information about your heart condition, or you have an infrequent irregular heartbeat that cannot easily be detected, your doctor may recommend a Holter Monitor. This test provides a clearer indication of your heart activity across a longer period of time as you go about your daily activities. Usually worn across 24-48 hours, it can also inform how different activities impact your heart. The Holter Monitor is also referred to as an ambulatory ECG as you can move around while your heartrate is being measured.
How does it work?
The Holter Monitor is a portable battery-operated machine that uses a small number of electrodes and leads to measure your heart activity. It is attached to your chest using sticky dots and can be worn comfortably around the neck and shoulders. While the machine records all the electrical activity across the prescribed period, patients are asked to keep a diary of any symptoms that occur. This aspect is extremely important as the physical symptoms are then cross-referenced with the Holter Monitor readings to detect the cause of any abnormalities. Patients are encouraged to keep to a normal day when wearing a Holter Monitor so the issues may be identified with more ease.
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