What is Holter Monitor?
Holter monitor is an electrocardiographic device that is designed to be worn by an outpatient patient. Holter monitor, which is worn for a period that may vary between one and three days, creates a continuous recording of a patient's heart rhythm that can be used as a diagnostic tool. These devices are used in the diagnosis of patients who have irregular arrhythmias or who indicate transient heart problems, because these problems are usually difficult to detect in hospital electrocardiographic session.
named for Dr. Normal Holter, the device consists of a box that is worn on the belt. The Holter monitor is designed to be used continuously, while some models are wearable in the shower and are relatively comfortable to wear, although some people consider electrodes and wires restrictive. Holter monitors are completely painless. When wearing the Holter monitor, the patient may be asked to maintain an activity protocol that can be compared to reading the device. They can be made dopoTreatment or physician liability may wait and see an approach to see if heart arrhythmias become more serious or more frequent. The record also goes to the patient's graph to refer in the future.
usually has a short orientation session with a Holter monitor in which a doctor or nurse shows the patient how the monitor is used. Patients are given substitute electrodes that are used if the monitor needs to be removed, and it is recalled that if a serious heart event occurs, the patient should go to the hospital for treatment. Patients are also encouraged to exercise as they normally will be, and to maintain their plans normal to provide the monitor with an accurate picture of the patient's health.
As an alternative to the Holter monitor, the patient may have an event monitor. Event monitors are worn continuously as Holter monitors, but starting to record only when they are specifically activated. TheseThe monitors can be worn for a much longer period of time and are used for patients who complain of specific cardiac events that are easily recognizable, giving the patient time to act active monitor to record the heart rhythm.