Premier Medical Associates offers Holter Monitor Testing to Central Florida
What are Holter Monitor Tests?
A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that keeps track of your heart rhythm. Your doctor may want you to wear a Holter monitor for one to two days. During that time, the device records all your heartbeats. A Holter Monitor Test is a checkup of the data and device to make sure everything is fine.
A Holter monitor test may be done if a traditional electrocardiogram doesn’t give your doctor enough information about your heart’s condition.
Your doctor uses information captured on the Holter monitor to figure out if you have a heart rhythm problem. If standard Holter monitoring doesn’t capture your irregular heartbeat, your doctor may suggest a longer-term monitor, which can record your heartbeat over several weeks.
Some personal devices, such as smartwatches, offer electrocardiogram monitoring. Ask your doctor if this is an option for you.
Who is an Ideal Patient for Holter Monitor Tests?
You may need a Holter monitor if you have an inconclusive electrocardiogram (EKG), a type of heart test.
Maybe you saw your doctor because of signs of a heart rhythm problem, like your heart is racing or fluttering. Or you had unexplained fainting.
Your provider decided to do an EKG to find the problem. But the EKG only records your heart for a short period. Heart symptoms don’t always happen while you’re in the provider’s office.
If the EKG doesn’t tell your provider what they need to know, a Holter monitor can help. It gathers more information about your heart’s activity. You wear it for a full day or two, giving it more chances to spot unusual activity.
What is the Benefit of Holter Monitor Tests?
The biggest advantage of a holter monitor is that it is a portable, wearable device. It can be worn by patients for the specified amount of time while continuing with their routine activities:
- The device records the patient’s heart’s rhythm and helps doctors in determining whether the patient’s heart condition is normal or not.
- Holter monitoring is more accurate in detecting any irregularities in the heart’s rhythm as it is connected to the heart for a much longer time than an ECG.
A holter monitor also helps determine the level of physical exercise or strenuous tasks that the body can perform comfortably.