24 Hr Holter Monitor

Some reasons for your cardiologist might request a Holter monitor include:

• To detect abnormal heartbeats or arrhythmias like atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, ectopic beats and Brady-arrhythmias ( slow heart rates)
• For other symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, or fainting, shortness of breath.
• To assess risk for future heart-related conditions like cardiomyopathy, weakening of the heart, Wolff-Parkinson-White disease
• To check the performance of a pacemaker
• To supervise complex arrhythmia treatments

A Holter monitor monitoring is a small process. It may vary depending on your specific condition but in the majority of cases, a Holter monitor recording follows this process:

• You will be asked to remove any chains or other electronic objects that may interfere with the ECG reading.
• You will be asked to remove the clothing from the upper body so that electrode sensors can be attached to your chest and abdomen.
• To maintain contact with the skin patches of hair might have to be shaved or clipped and cleaned so that the electrodes will stick closely.
• Electrodes patches will stick to your chest and abdomen. The Holter monitor will be connected to the electrodes via wires. The small monitor box can be worn around your waist.
• Once you have been armed with the monitor and given further instructions, you can do your usual activities like going to work, having food, doing house chores etc. This will allow your cardiologist to detect problems that may only occur due to certain activities.
• You will be asked to take notes of your activities while wearing the monitor. Write down any symptoms such as chest pains, dizziness or palpitations, as and when they occur.

• These are some of the things that should be avoided while wearing the Holter monitor. Here is a list of things that may interfere with or alter readings :

  • Mobile phones
  • MP3 players
  • Metal Detectors
  • Magnets
  • High-frequency waves
  • Shavers
  • Microwave
  • Excessive sweating

The Holter monitor is a non-invasive way of evaluating your heart’s condition. No current is passed through the body at any point in time. So it is a harmless and easy procedure.

In the majority of cases, the Holter has a 24 Hr operational guideline but the time may be extended to 72 Hrs depending on your cardiologist’s judgement.

• ELR ( external loop recorders)
• ILR ( implantable loop recorders)
• Event monitors