A Holter monitor is used to record the electrical activity of the heart on a continuous basis over a period of one to two days. This type of heart monitor performs an extended version of an electrocardiogram (ECG). This form of monitoring enables cardiology professionals to monitor and diagnose myocardial ischemia (reduced supply of blood to the heart) and cardiac
arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats).

Monitoring the Heart’s Activity Over the Longer Term

A Holter monitor discovers abnormal ECG activity, including abnormal heartbeats that a regular ECG may miss during the short period of time test. Due to its continuous monitoring for up to two days, Holter monitors detect more periodic abnormalities.

Heart Conditions Checked With a Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor reveals vital information about the health of your heart in relation to your medical history, age, physical examination, and other tests.

Although a cardiac Holter monitor cannot detect every type of heart condition or predict
future heart issues, your doctor may recommend a Holter monitor to diagnose certain
heart conditions and their severity. This information can help guide the optimum
treatment going forward.

The conditions that a Holter monitor help diagnose include:

• Coronary artery disease (CAD), when plaque collects on the walls of arteries that carries blood to the heart. CAD can initiate angina (chest pain) and ischemia (poor blood flow to the heart). A Holter monitor is effective at diagnosing ischemia when the patient has no other symptoms, including no chest pain.

• Cardia arrhythmias include heartbeats that are irregular, too slow, or too fast. These are heartbeat patterns that occur only at certain times, not all the time.

An ECG Holter monitor help diagnose if the symptoms a patient is experiencing are connected to a heart issue. Some of these symptoms include shortness of breath, dizziness, fatigue, chest pain, heart palpitations, weakness, passing out, or the feeling of an irregular, racing, or
pounding heartbeat.