A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records the heart's rhythm. It's used to detect or determine the risk of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias). A Holter monitor test may be done if a traditional electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) doesn't provide enough details about the heart's condition.
Some people may have conditions such as heart block that can lead to a slow heart rate, dizziness and passing out. Some people may have uncontrolled fast heart rates from atrial fibrillation or other forms of arrhythmia. Holter monitors can be used to diagnose and characterize these disorders.
To evaluate other signs and symptoms that may be heart-related, such as tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting. To identify irregular heartbeats or palpitations.
High stress / emotions can raise the levels of circulating adrenaline (natural stress response) and there are certain abnormal heart rhythms (detectable on a Holter monitor).
Background: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) often present with cardiovascular symptoms. Holter monitors were reported to predict sleep apnea, though were rarely used in everyday clinical practice.
After the test period, return the monitor to the technician. He or she will process the record of your heart activity and prepare a report for your doctor. This will include the notes in your diary. You should get the results of the test in one or two weeks.
The most common symptoms of heart failure are: breathlessness – this may occur after activity or at rest; it may be worse when you're lying down, and you may wake up at night needing to catch your breath. fatigue – you may feel tired most of the time and find exercise exhausting.
Heart conditions such as angina, heart attacks, heart failure and some abnormal heart rhythms like atrial fibrillation can all cause shortness of breath. These conditions may cause breathlessness for different reasons.
It can pick up not only your heart's rate and rhythm but also when you feel chest pains or exhibit symptoms of an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia. Holter monitor testing is also sometimes called ambulatory electrocardiography.
If you have abnormal results, your doctor may want to order more tests to pinpoint the cause. To schedule an appointment for a Holter monitor test, visit the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute or contact us at 1-855-UPMC-HVI (876-2484).
A heart monitor displays the heart's ECG trace in a graph that looks like a long strip of peaks and valleys, which a doctor then reviews for possible diagnosis of heart conditions such as atrial fibrillation, tachycardia and other arrhythmias.
Minor symptoms of heart blockage include irregular or skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath and chest tightness. Other symptoms may include pain or numbness in the legs or arms, as well as neck or throat pain.
People can experience shortness of breath while walking for a number of reasons. Sometimes, this occurs as a result of conditions such as anxiety, asthma, or obesity. Less commonly, shortness of breath signals a more serious underlying medical condition.
Shortness of breath does not equal saturation (SaO2%)
In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
Stage 2 of Congestive Heart Failure
Stage two of congestive heart failure will produce symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations after you participate in physical activity. As with stage one, lifestyle changes and certain medication can help improve your quality of life.
Tiredness, fatigue
...a tired feeling all the time and difficulty with everyday activities, such as shopping, climbing stairs, carrying groceries or walking. The heart can't pump enough blood to meet the needs of body tissues.
In a study where patients wore both a Holter ECG for 24 hours, and a 14-day patch, the Holter recorded 61 arrhythmia events and the patch recorded 96 events. In that study, 90% of physicians felt they had a definitive diagnosis from the patch monitor, compared to 64% who felt the same way after Holter monitor usage.
In the largest study to evaluate dietary patterns and quantify cardiac ectopy using 24‐hour Holter monitoring, we found no relationship between chronic consumption of caffeinated products and ectopy.
Do not bathe, shower or swim while wearing the holter monitor. At night, try to sleep on your back keeping the monitor carefully positioned at your side so that the electrodes and wires stay in position on your body and remain securely attached to the recording device.
Certain devices can interrupt the signal from the electrodes and distort your Holter monitor test results. Stay away from microwaves, electric blankets, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, and metal detectors. If you absolutely need to go through a metal detector, then walk through it at a normal pace.