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A Holter monitor is a type of ECG monitor. An ECG, or electrocardiogram, is a noninvasive diagnostic technique for monitoring heart activity that works by recording related electrical impulses. The test involves electrodes and electrical wires attached to the chest, legs and arms that send information to an ECG machine to record any heart abnormalities.
However, a typical ECG only lasts for a few minutes and may not pick irregular behavior in that time. A Holter monitor records over a longer time period and can detect a wider range of information.
How Does a Holter Work?
Rather than a few minutes, a monitor Holter runs for 24 hours or even as many as 72 hours and records any heart activity while the patient is outside the doctor’s office. The longer time period allows notable heart activity, such as arrhythmias to show on the ECG. This information can help determine the causes of abnormal heart rhythms.
Holter monitors are small battery-operated devices that a patient wears, typically on the waist, that store information from the electrodes and lead wires. The test is painless. The Holter device is comfortable and allows patients to continue with daily business, and it can rest at the bedside during sleep.
State-of-the-Art Holter Testing
A PC-based monitor Holter system can automatically analyze and organize ECG data, systematically identify artifacts for fast and efficient edit and review and generate clear reports. Online medical equipment providers make these systems and accessories, such as flashcards, enhanced software, download cables or 3-channel monitor kits, available from leading manufacturers directly on the website.
