Holter Monitor

Continuous heart rate monitoring gives your doctor a fuller diagnostic picture than a few minutes on a hospital EKG.

Our approach to Holter monitor treatment

Our cardiologists and electrophysiologists take a committed, patient-centered approach to your care. We consult with each other frequently on your behalf and naturally work in a multidisciplinary way. Our cooperative approach makes it easy for you to see expert subspecialists at each step, from diagnosis to treatment. 

An arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. It can cause many symptoms and health problems like fatigue, shortness of breath and even stroke. But an arrhythmia can also be a symptom of severe illnesses such as Long QT or Brugada syndrome. These conditions end up disrupting the blood flow in your body.

A Holter monitor will capture your heartbeat continuously, giving your caretakers a clearer understanding of your irregular heartbeat. Your doctor may need you to wear a Holter monitor at home for one or two days, possibly longer. 

What will a Holter monitor tell you?

A Holter monitor will tell you detailed information about your heartbeat over 24 to 48 hours. It records your minimum, maximum and average heart rate. Most importantly, it captures abnormal or irregular heartbeats. 

A standard electrocardiogram records only 40 to 50 heartbeats while you are attached to the machine. A Holter monitor records about 100,000 heartbeats in 24 hours and is more likely to identify problems.

In addition to using the device, your doctor will also ask you to record what symptoms you feel and when. This creates a more complete picture that helps your physician understand your arrhythmia.

What diseases can a Holter monitor detect?

A Holter monitor will detect an arrhythmia, skipped heartbeats, an abnormal heart rate or other anomalies that an EKG might miss. Indirectly, it can also detect reduced blood flow. Reduced blood flow could mean one of your coronary arteries has a blockage.

What can you not do while wearing a Holter monitor?

What you can not do while wearing a Holter monitor is: 

• Don’t take a shower or get the device wet
• Don’t use electric blankets
• Don’t use electric razors and toothbrushes
• Avoid magnets, including MRI machines
• Avoid metal detectors
• Avoid using microwave ovens
• Keep cell phones at least six inches away from the device

Some electronic devices, magnets and microwaves may interfere with the signal the electrodes send to the Holter monitor.

Can I drink coffee while wearing a Holter monitor?

To capture clean data, your doctor may ask you to curb any caffeinated drinks or alcohol.

Is it hard to sleep with a Holter monitor?

Sleeping on your back or side is optimal. Make sure the electrodes are securely fastened on your chest but not too tight. Sleeping on your stomach could be uncomfortable.

Is it OK to exercise while wearing a Holter monitor?

You might want to consult directly with your doctor to know for sure. Generally, it should be alright to do light exercise. 

However, excess perspiration from heavy exercise might loosen the adhesive that keeps the electrodes secure. In that case, the device won’t work properly. 

Benefits of using a Holter monitor

Holter monitors are useful because arrhythmias can be a challenge to record at your doctor's office. The benefits of wearing a Holter monitor include:

• Locating the source of an arrhythmia or abnormal heartbeat
• Helping your doctor diagnose your cardiac condition 
• Finding the cause of dizziness, chest pain and fainting
• Checking the blood flow to your heart
• Predicting your risk for future conditions or cardiac events
• Checking the effectiveness of an existing pacemaker
• Verifying that arrhythmia treatment is working

What to expect

We tape electrodes to your chest that connect to the device. The monitor is a small, battery-operated tape recorder that you wear on a strap. 

While wearing the Holter monitor, you can expect to walk around and do most normal daily activities except for showering.  

You’ll need to write down any symptoms as they happen. Be on the lookout for:

• Pounding, fluttering, or skipped heartbeats 
• Shortness of breath 
• Chest pain 
• Lightheadedness 
• Dizziness or feeling faint

What happens after using my Holter monitor?

You’ll return the monitor to UCI Health and then a technician will calculate the results. Within a few weeks you’ll receive a report. Then you’ll discuss the report results with your doctor.

You can resume normal activities after returning the Holter monitor. But you may also need to undergo treatment for a cardiac condition based on the resulting diagnosis.

Why choose UCI Health for Holter monitor treatment?

Our heart care is truly comprehensive

Wearing a Holter monitor will help your doctor diagnose your condition. That’s vital because arrhythmias are associated with multiple serious heart illnesses. At UCI Health, our specialists all work together to ensure you’ll get the comprehensive arrhythmia care you need. Our highly specialized team includes experts in general cardiology, preventive cardiology, electrophysiology, heart surgery, heart failure, cardiac rehab and more. 

Clinical trials for arrhythmias

As the only academic health system in Orange County, UCI Health leads and participates in clinical trials for arrhythmias. These trials look at new, effective ways to alleviate arrhythmia symptoms and reduce your risks for complications. You may have access to therapies that are not yet widely available. 

Many of our heart and vascular physicians and surgeons are recognized as the Best Doctors in America®

If you need further treatment after getting the results from the Holtermonitor, you’re in great hands. You’ll have access to a highly skilled team of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians and exercise physiologists. All of them are dedicated to providing you with innovative and compassionate care.