24-Hour Holter Monitor

What is a holter monitor?

A holter monitor is a small recording device that continuously records your heart rate and rhythm for 24 hours. The device is about the size of a pager and is connected to the patient with five electrodes. It is small enough to conceal under clothing yet powerful enough to record every single heart beat in a 24-hour period. After the 24 hours are up, the patient returns to the cardiopulmonary department to have the monitor removed. A therapist then downloads, scans, and prints the report for review by a physician.

Why does my doctor want me to have a holter monitor?

If you are having intermittent symptoms such as syncope, dizziness, irregular heart beat, a fast heart beat, etc. a holter monitor's 24-hours recording is an excellent way to document a problem that might otherwise be missed by an EKG.

What do I need to do before I come in for my test?

Make sure you have you physician's order. You cannot be admitted for the test without an order. Present your orders to the admission clerk and she will give you additional paperwork to bring to our department.