Holter Monitoring

Holter monitoring provides a complete picture of your heart rhythm over 24 hours, as you go about your routine. At Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates, the leading Northern California cardiologists provide Holter monitoring in two locations in Sacramento and and additional locations in Davis. Book your appointment online or call the office nearest you today.

What is a Holter monitor?

A Holter monitor is a portable cardiac monitor. Invented by physicist Norman Holter in 1947, the Holter monitor has evolved from a heavy backpack-sized device to about the size of a deck of cards.

Holter monitors track your heart rhythm continuously for a full 24 hours. They offer a detailed picture of your heart rhythm during the day, overnight, and in most situations you routinely encounter.

When might I need a Holter monitor?

The Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates team might recommend Holter monitoring if you have possible symptoms of a slow or fast heartbeat or other types of arrhythmia. Some common examples of such symptoms include:

• Heart palpitations
• Angina (chest pain)
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fatigue

If you have these types of symptoms, the first test is usually an electrocardiogram (EKG). But, EKGs don’t necessarily detect infrequent arrhythmias. So, a Holter monitor might be the next step if your EKG doesn’t provide answers.

Other reasons that you might need a Holter monitor include evaluating the effect of your heart medication, checking the effectiveness of your pacemaker, or assessing your complication risk if you have a condition like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. 

How does the Holter monitor process work?

The Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates team attaches small electrodes to your chest. The electrodes connect to wires, which then feed into the Holter monitor recorder. 

You’ll generally wear the recorder around your belt or over your shoulder in a bag. The team provides detailed directions for wearing your Holter monitor, like keeping it dry at all times.

For the most part, you can return to your normal routine right away. Go about your day as usual, keeping track of your activities and the time you did them. Make sure to note if you have any symptoms as well. This information helps in the diagnostic process.

What happens after wearing a Holter monitor?

You’ll return the equipment to the office so the team can analyze the results. You’ll learn about your results, diagnosis, and treatment plan at a follow-up visit. 

Based on your results, you may need additional testing like an event monitor, which only records your heart rhythm when you trigger it to do so. You wear event monitors for up to a month.

Call the nearest Sacramento Heart & Vascular Medical Associates office or book your appointment online today.