Holter and Event Monitors
Holter monitors and other wearable event monitors provide a way to detect and determine a person’s risk for irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmia.
Wearable Device Records the Heart Rhythm
Why you might need a Holter monitor
Certain signs may lead an electrophysiologist to suggest using a Holter monitor to track your heart’s activity, including:
- Unexplained fainting
- Certain pre-existing heart conditions
- Additional signs or symptoms of arrhythmia
- Infrequent heart rhythm irregularities
Holter monitor or event monitor?
While both devices track your heartbeat in the same way, the length of time they actively record data varies. A Holter monitor measures heart activity for about 24 to 48 hours. This may not be enough time to catch irregularities if they’re not frequent. In that case, your heart rhythm specialist may ask you to use an event monitor. These can track and record your heartbeat over several weeks.
Wearing a Holter monitor
A Holter monitor is either worn on a belt or attached to a strap. The device is about the size of a deck of cards. Wires run from the device to electrodes that stick to your chest. Since water can damage a traditional Holter monitor, you cannot shower, bathe or swim while wearing it. Or, if you have a wireless Holter monitor, you will be shown how to disconnect and reconnect the sensors and the monitor to shower or bathe.
The painless process of getting a Holter monitor put on is done in an cardiologist’s office. The whole process takes less than 30 minutes.
You may also be asked to write down your activities or symptoms while you are being monitored, especially if you start to feel any chest pain, shortness of breath or any changes you notice in your heartbeat, like pounding, fluttering or skipped heartbeats.
Once the monitoring is complete, you’ll return the device and discuss the results with your electrophysiologist.
Learn more about Wellstar heart care and find a specialist near you.