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.
This monitor is:
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 24 or 48 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.
Your provider can also use a cardiac monitor to determine how well your:
Heart is getting oxygen.
Heart medications are working.
Pacemaker is working.
When would a Holter monitor not be appropriate?
If you need urgent treatment for heart symptoms, then a Holter monitor would not be appropriate. Providers don’t recommend a cardiac monitor if it delays urgent care. Providers also do not use a Holter monitor for routine screening if you don’t have symptoms.
Disclaimer: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. The information is provided solely for educational purpose and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.
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