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How Does a Holter Work?

Individuals with cardiac arrhythmias, or abnormal heart activity, may experience occasional symptoms that might not appear during a doctor or hospital visit. Under such circumstances, doctors may make use of a Holter to help diagnose the condition.

  1. Definition

    • A Holter, or Holter monitor, acts like a portable EKG, or electrocardiogram. An electrocardiogram interprets a heart's electrical activity over time. Patients commonly wear a Holter for a period of 24 hours, but if symptoms remain too intermittent to diagnose, doctors may require patients to wear the device for a longer period.

    Process

    • The Holter records the heart's electrical signals via electrodes that attach to the wearer's chest. These electrodes attach via wires to a device that digitally records electrical readings, which the wearer can attach to his belt or carry in a pouch over his neck or shoulder.

    Results

    • The Holter records EKG readings on strips on a tape. After the Holter is removed, a physician can review the EKG results to analyze the heart rhythms. Unless the doctor believes that Holter recordings present an immediate threat to the wearer, he usually communicates Holter results to the wearer within a few days after removing the device.

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