What is a Holter Monitor?

Your physician has recommended that you wear a device for a 24-hour period. But you may ask yourself, 'What is a Holter Monitor?'

A Holter Monitor is a 24-hour continuous recording of the patient’s ECG. Holter Monitoring is a useful test as it provides physicians with abundant information about both the electrical behavior and oxygen demands in the coronary arteries.

A Holter Monitor study is generally ordered by a physician for a patient who has symptoms or suspected activity not detected in the 12-lead resting EKG test performed in the office. These symptoms can include chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, syncope, lightheadedness, dizziness, or skipped beats. The Holter Monitor is an effective diagnostic tool for physicians because it can provide a direct correlation between these symptoms and the behavior of your heart.

A Holter Monitor is also useful for patients with documented coronary artery disease. The physician may order the study to look for asymptomatic events or abnormalities that cannot be felt by the patient. The detection of these abnormalities can be a predictor of future adverse events. Another use for a Holter Monitoring study is for patients who already have diagnosed ECG arrhythmias.