A Holter monitor is a continuous tape recording of a patient's ECG for 24 hours.
Since it can be worn during the patient's regular daily activities, it helps the physician correlate symptoms of dizziness, palpitations or black outs. Holter monitoring is much more likely to detect an abnormal heart rhythm when compared to the ECG which lasts less than a minute.
It can also help evaluate the patient's ECG during episodes of chest pain, during which time there may be telltale changes to suggest reduced blood supply to the muscle of the left ventricle.
A Medical Assistant will attach electrodes to your chest. A tape recorder is secured to your belt or slung over the shoulder and neck with the use of a pouch. A diary is provided so you can record activity and any symptoms you may experience.
After 24 hours, you will return to the office and the Holter will be removed. The recording will be interpreted and provided to your provider and will take up to one week to be relayed to you.
For a more detailed description as well as safety information, please click here