What is a Holter monitor?
A Holter monitor, named after its inventor, Dr. Norman J. Holter, is a small, portable device that is worn to record the electrical activity of your heart. It is used primarily to detect irregular heart patterns (arrhythmias) outside a hospital setting that may go undetected during a ECG or EKG due to the short duration of an ECG test. This is especially helpful if your symptoms occur infrequently enough to go undetected during an ECG.
Who needs a Holter monitor?
Your physician may ask you to wear a Holter monitor if you are experiencing symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, unexplained fainting or dizziness, or another heart condition that increases the risk of arrhythmias.
What are the risks of a Holter monitor?
There are very few risks related to wearing a Holter monitor. Some people with sensitive skin or allergies to adhesive may experience discomfort from the sensors. Although they’re not typically known to be affected by electrical appliances, some devices may cause issues with the Holter monitor signal. Similar to an event monitor, you should avoid things like magnets, metal detectors, electric devices or cell phones. You should also keep your cellphone or other electronic devices 6 inches or more from your Holter monitor. Your provider will give you specific instructions on what you can and cannot use while wearing your event monitor.
How do you prepare for a Holter monitor?
Your physician will give you specific instructions on how to prepare to wear your Holter monitor, but you should plan to bathe prior to your appointment and be sure your skin is clean and dry so the electrodes can be securely attached. If you have hair on your chest you may be asked to shave that area. Your physician will place your Holter monitor during your appointment, and once it is placed it cannot be removed. These electrodes are usually connected by wiring to the Holter monitor itself, although there are some wireless options available. This is a small, battery powered device that can be carried in your pocket or attached to your belt.
What should you expect from a Holter monitor?
You should plan to follow your physician’s guidance on how long to wear your Holter monitor. Typically this will be anywhere from 24-48 hours. The Holter monitor will record your heartbeats for the full time you wear it. During this time you can go about your day, although you should be careful when exercising or doing other activities that may cause the monitor to fall or break so you do not damage the device. Water will damage the device, so you should plan to avoid water including showers or baths while you’re wearing the monitor (hence why it is important to shower or bathe prior to your appointment). If you have a wireless device, your healthcare team will give you instructions on how to disconnect the device so you can still shower or bathe during this time.
When you wear the Holter monitor, you’ll also be asked to keep a record of your activities and any symptoms that you experience. This information will help your provider diagnose or identify other heart tests for you.
Once you are done wearing your Holter monitor, your doctor will review the recordings from your device to determine your heart’s electrical activity. They will look for abnormalities and irregularities, which assists them in diagnosing conditions such as arrythmias, heart palpitations or other heart conditions. Once they’ve analyzed your results in conjunction with your symptoms, they will provide you with a treatment plan. If the results are inconclusive, they may ask you to wear the Holter monitor again or switch to an event monitor which can be worn for a longer period of time.