What is it?: A Holter monitor is a portable heart monitor that produces a record of your heartbeats over an extended period of time (usually 24 hours). It is often used to identify problems undetected by a single electrocardiogram.
How does it work?: A portable ECG monitor is connected to patches on your chest. The monitor is about the size of a small cassette player and is carried in a fanny pack during the recording period. The monitor records your heart's electrical impulses as you go about your daily activities.
Risks/Complications: None are known.
Where is this test done?: The monitor hook-up can be done in your doctor's office or can be done at the hospital as an outpatient. It takes approximately 20-30 minutes to set up the monitor and then you may go home.
Who does the hook-up?: A technician, a respiratory therapist or a registered nurse may do the hook up.
Is there any pain or discomfort associated with this procedure?: None, although wearing the monitor for 24 hours may be somewhat cumbersome or awkward. It may also interfere with bathing or showering, as you cannot get the monitor or patches wet. Do not use an electric blanket or TENS unit while wearing a Holter unit. Do not do any welding with this unit on.
During the test: At the time you are hooked up to the Holter monitor, you will be given a diary to keep during the 24 hours of you study. This diary is a very important part of interpreting your results. Do not lose it. In your diary, please record any of the following symptoms or activities that occur for you while wearing your Holter monitor.
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Palpitations
- Tight chest
- Weak
- Tired
- Faint
- Dizzy
- Indigestion
- Nausea
- Taking medications (indicate specific medications taken)
- Sleeping
- Resting
- Feeling anxious
- Exercise
- Shoulder pain
- Headache
- Other pain
- Meals
- Smoking cigarettes
- Any other symptoms that cause you concern
What do I do after I have worn the monitor for 24 hours?: Return to the medical center to have the monitor removed. This will take 5-10 minutes.
When will I know the results of my test?: It takes approximately 3-4 days from the time you are hooked up to the monitor until the time the results reach your physician. Contact your physician for your results.
