WHAT IS A HOLTER MONITOR?
A Holter monitor is a small, portable, battery-powered device that measures your heart’s electrical activity over a continuous period, while you go about your normal daily activities. This is typically for 24 to 48 hours but can be longer. C Through 786 Diagnostic uses the myPatch-SL Holter monitor, which has a slim patch and single lead and can record for up to 14 days.
WHY DO I NEED TO HAVE A HOLTER MONITOR?
Your doctor may request this test if you have a slow, fast or irregular heartbeat or if you have experienced symptoms of dizziness, blackouts or palpitations. Or, your doctor may want to see how well your medicines are working to treat these problems.
WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE?
The small portable recording device is placed on a disposable electrode and is applied to your chest (over the area of your sternum). There is only one lead wire going to an electrode attached to the skin between your 4th and 5th ribs. The device records your heart’s activity while you perform your normal daily activities.
You will be asked to write down any heart symptoms you experience in the monitoring period and to record their occasion by tapping the event recorder on myPatch, the cardiac technologist will demonstrate this when fitting you with the device.
When complete, the device is removed and linked to a computer, which downloads the information and prepares a report of your heart’s activities (ECG recordings) for the monitoring period.