What Are the Holter Heart Monitors?

An electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG or ECG, is a valuable tool used by physicians to detect and diagnose heart problems. The EKG provides a graphic record of the electrical activity of the heart. A reading from a healthy heart produces a characteristic rhythmic pattern. Heart abnormalities are suspected when an EKG reveals a pattern that deviates from the norm. Various types of EKG monitors exist, one of which is the Holter monitor.

Description

• A Holter heart monitor is a portable EKG machine that provides a continuous tape recording of the heart's electrical impulses over a 24-hour period. Sticky electrode tapes are placed on the patient's chest. Wires connect the electrodes to a small box that can be worn on a patient's belt or carried using a shoulder strap. Impulses are recorded and stored in the box.

Purpose

• Electrocardiograms are generally performed in physicians' offices and emergency departments when a patient complains of symptoms that might be heart-related. The disadvantage of this procedure is that it only records the heart's electrical activity at that particular time. If the patient is not experiencing symptoms when the test is performed, a heart condition may go unnoticed. Holter monitors enable physicians to review heart activity over an extended period of time, thereby increasing the likelihood of detecting abnormalities.

Procedure

• It generally takes 10 to 15 minutes to apply the monitor. Patients are instructed to keep a log of any activities they perform or symptoms they experience and the time of their occurrence. Maintaining an accurate log is essential because it allows the physician to match specific activities or symptoms with abnormal impulse patterns revealed by the taped recording. At the conclusion of the test, the monitor is removed and the tape is translated by a special computer that detects rhythm abnormalities. The results are presented to the physician for review.