This is a small, battery-operated medical device used to record your heart's rhythm for 24 hours or more. If you have had palpitations, dizziness or a collapse, your doctor may recommend one for you to work out whether the cause is an abnormal heart rhythm.
Different monitors have different designs, and some are resistant to water (allowing showering). The duration of monitoring is usually between 24 hours and 7 days for infrequent symptoms.
Holter monitoring is used for intermittent cardiac symptoms which are not captured at the time of your appointment such as faintness, dizziness, or feeling as if your heart is skipping a beat or racing. It is also used to assess your heart rate over a longer period to adjust medications used to control your heart rhythm.
The monitor is small in size, being slightly larger than a deck of playing cards, with some wires connected to your body using stickers. Just like an electrocardiogram (ECG), a series of stickers are attached to the chest which contain electrodes which detect the heart’s electrical activity. Some cables lead to a small device that records your heart rhythm digitally. You will be asked to record when you have symptoms so that your expert Consultant Cardiologist can match up your symptoms to your heart rhythm at the time.
During the testing period, you will be asked to wear a small pouch around your neck which holds the monitor. The person fitting the monitor will explain how to reattach the electrodes should they come off or become loose. Instructions on how to care for your monitor and activities to avoid while wearing it will be given to you.
Participation in your normal activities during the 24-hour Holter test is encouraged. You will be asked to record your activities at different times. This aids your expert Consultant Cardiologist in analysing whether changes in heart activity are associated with your movements and behaviours.
There is no risk in wearing the monitor itself. But the adhesives or tape that glue the electrodes to your skin may cause slight skin irritation in certain people. If you are allergic to any adhesives or tape, ensure you let the technician that attaches your monitor know about it.
When the ECG has been completed, you will return (or post) the monitor back to My Heart Clinic. Your expert Consultant Cardiologist will analyse the results of the monitor and review your notes on what activities you have undertaken.
The monitor may identify what rhythm problem, if any, is causing your symptoms. It may also inform your Cardiologist that your medicine or dose of medicine needs changing.
If abnormal rhythms are found, you may need other tests such as an echocardiogram (ultrasound), CT coronary angiogram, cardiac MRI or electrophysiological testing.
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