Holter Monitoring 

Holter monitoring is a recording of your heartbeats. It records for 24 to 48 hours, while you go about your daily life. The monitor records the electrical activity of the heart. We call this your “heart rhythm.” An odd heart rhythm, such as the change in either speed or pattern of the heartbeat, is called an arrhythmia.

A monitor may be ordered to:

• Find odd heartbeats that may not occur during a standard ECG.

• Look for symptoms that come and go, such as palpitations, dizzy spells, or fainting spells.

• See how well your medicine or pacemaker treatment is working.

The Monitor

The monitor is small and about the size of a pager. It has a cable that hooks to five sticky patches, called electrodes. The patches are stuck to different areas of the chest. These patches record the heartbeats.

Reminders

The cable, connected leads, and patches must remain attached the whole time. If a patch comes off, clean the area, and put back on. You will have extra patches.

Do not get the monitor, cable, leads, or patches wet. Do not swim, take a bath, or shower while wearing the monitor.

Try to sleep on your back, with the recorder at your side. This will keep the patches from being pulled off.

Avoid electric blankets, magnets, metal detectors, and high voltage areas such as power lines. Signals from such devices may affect the data.

Diary

You will need to keep a diary when wearing the monitor. It helps us compare your actions and symptoms to the ECG record.

Record the date, time, and length of:

• Exercise and physical activity (walking/jogging/biking, yard work, household chores, snow removal).

• Physical or emotional distress causing a sudden increase in heart rate (argument).

• Any dizziness, fainting, racing heart, shortness of breath, chest pain/pressure or tightness symptoms.

Return the Monitor

Drop off monitors in the provided envelope to an approved clinic location. Monitors can also be dropped off at the clinic in which it was applied. We do offer a pre-paid mailing envelope in some scenarios (patient lives too far away, doesn't have transportation, etc.).

Please return the monitor, cable, and diary. Remove and throw away all patches, tape, and pouch before you return the monitor.

Results

A heart doctor will look at the data. The results will be given to your doctor. Your doctor will share the results with you and design a care plan that is best for you.

Who to Call

For any questions, please contact the Heart Station at (608) 263-6609.