How Long Do You Wear A Holter Monitor

What is a Holter monitor?

The Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the electrical activity of the middle continuously over 24 hours or longer while you lot are away from the doctor'due south 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 peel) are placed at certain points on the chest and abdomen. The electrodes are continued to an ECG machine by wires. Then, the electric activity of the heart can be measured, recorded, and printed. No electricity is sent into the body.

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

An illustration of the holter monitor device on a human body

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. Yous wear the same kind of ECG electrode patches on your breast, and the electrodes are continued by wires to a small, portable recording device.

Certain arrhythmias (aberrant heart rhythms) may occur only at present and then. Or, they may occur merely 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 take a chance of capturing whatever abnormal heartbeats or rhythms that may be causing the symptoms. Some Holter monitors also have an result monitor feature that you activate when you notice symptoms.

You volition get instructions on how long y'all will demand to wear the monitor (usually 24 to 48 hours), how to continue a diary of your activities and symptoms during the test, and personal intendance and activity instructions, which include keeping the device dry while you are wearing information technology.

Why might I need a Holter monitor?

Some reasons for your healthcare provider to request a Holter monitor recording or event monitor recording include:

To evaluate chest pain that can't exist reproduced with exercise testing
To evaluate other signs and symptoms that may exist eye-related, such equally tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting
To identify irregular heartbeats or palpitations
To appraise risk for future heart-related events in sure conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened middle walls), after a heart attack that caused weakness of the left side of the middle, or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (where an aberrant electrical conduction pathway exists within the heart)
To see how well a pacemaker is working
To determine how well treatment for complex arrhythmias is working

There may be other reasons for your healthcare provider to recommend the utilize of a Holter monitor.

What are the risks of a Holter monitor?

The Holter monitor is an easy way to appraise the heart'due south function. Risks associated with the Holter monitor are rare.

It can be hard to keep the electrodes stuck to your skin, and extra tape may be needed. It may exist uncomfortable when the sticky electrodes and tape are taken off. If the electrodes are on for a long time, they may crusade tissue breakdown or skin irritation at the application site.

In that location may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to talk over any concerns with your healthcare provider before wearing the monitor.

Certain factors or weather condition may interfere with or bear upon the results of the Holter monitor reading. These include, only are not limited to:

Close proximity to magnets, metallic detectors, loftier-voltage electrical wires, and electrical appliances such equally shavers, toothbrushes, and microwave ovens. Prison cell phones and MP3 players can also interfere with the signals and should exist kept at least vi inches abroad from the monitor box.
Smoking or using other forms of tobacco
Certain medicines
Excessive sweating, which may cause the leads to loosen or come off

How do I get ready for a Holter monitor?

Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure to you and you can ask questions.
You practice non need to fast (not eat or potable).
Based on your medical condition, your healthcare provider may request other specific preparation.

What happens during a Holter monitor?

A Holter monitor recording is more often than not done on an outpatient ground. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your healthcare providers do.

Generally, a Holter monitor recording follows this process:

You will be asked to remove whatsoever jewelry or other objects that may interfere with the reading.
You will exist asked to remove your wear from the waist up and so that electrodes can be attached to your chest. The technician volition ensure your privacy past covering you lot with a sheet or gown and exposing only the necessary peel.
The areas where the electrodes patches are placed are cleaned, and in some cases, pilus may be shaved or clipped and so that the electrodes will stick closely to the pare.
Electrodes will exist fastened to your chest and abdomen. The Holter monitor will be connected to the electrodes with wires. The small monitor box may be worn over your shoulder like a shoulder bag, around your waist, or it may clip to a belt or pocket.
Find out if you will accept to change the batteries in the monitor. Exist sure you know how to do it and have extra batteries on hand.
Once you have been hooked up to the monitor and given instructions, you can return to your usual activities, such equally work, household chores, and practise, unless your healthcare provider tells you otherwise. This will allow your healthcare provider to identify problems that may only occur with certain activities.
You will be instructed to keep a diary of your activities while wearing the monitor. Write down the date and time of your activities, particularly if whatever symptoms, such every bit dizziness, palpitations, breast pain, or other previously experienced symptoms, occur.

What happens after a Holter monitor?

Y'all should be able to go back your normal nutrition and activities, unless your healthcare provider instructs you differently.

More often than not, there is no special intendance after a Holter monitor recording.

Tell your healthcare provider if you lot develop any signs or symptoms yous had before the recording (for instance, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting).

Your healthcare provider may give you other instructions after the procedure, depending on your particular situation.