A Holter monitor is a small, portable device worn continuously for 24 to 48 hours (and sometimes longer) to record your heart’s electrical activity over an extended period. Unlike a standard EKG, which captures a snapshot of your heart rhythm in a few seconds, the Holter monitor provides a continuous recording, making it ideal for detecting irregularities that occur infrequently or unpredictably.
This test is commonly recommended to evaluate symptoms such as:
- Palpitations (a racing or fluttering heartbeat)
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Unexplained fainting (syncope)
- Fatigue or shortness of breath
- Intermittent chest discomfort
Patients wear the monitor during normal daily activities, allowing your cardiologist to correlate abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) with specific symptoms or events. It’s especially useful for identifying conditions like atrial fibrillation, premature beats, and pauses in heart activity.
Holter monitoring is non-invasive, painless, and provides valuable insight when a standard EKG or office visit isn’t enough to capture transient issues.