Diagnose an arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat.Find out the causes of symptoms like chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, light-headedness, or fainting.
Your doctor might also recommend a Holter monitor test to: For example, if you have heart palpitations when you lie down to sleep at night, a Holter monitor test can help your doctor find out why. This is helpful because heart rhythm problems don’t always show up during a standard EKG or a doctor’s exam. A Holter monitor test is a type of EKG that shows your heart’s rhythm for a much longer period of time. Why is the Holter Monitor Test Performed?Ī standard electrocardiogram, or EKG, records your heart’s rhythm for a few minutes. It is connected to wires attached to electrodes, or sticky patches that are placed directly onto your chest.
The monitor is battery-powered and can be carried in your pocket or a small pouch. A Holter monitor is a small device that records your heart’s rhythm over a set period of time, usually 24 to 48 hours.