24-Hour Holter Monitor

Holter monitoring is a continuous recording of your heart's electrical activity for 24 hours while you go about your normal activities. It is very useful in diagnosing abnormal heart rhythms and in determining whether recurring symptoms such as dizziness, fainting and palpitations are caused by abnormal rhythms.

What You Need to Know

• Take a bath or shower before you receive your Holter monitor. You won't be able to bathe while you wear the monitor.
• Wear a shirt to the appointment that you can remove easily and give the technician access to your upper body.
• The technician places several patches (electrodes) on your chest with wires that attach to the Holter monitor.
• You wear the monitor for 24 hours, unless the technician tells you otherwise.
• Follow your daily activities. Record any symptoms you notice, including dizziness, palpitations, chest pain and shortness of breath.
• If an electrode comes off while you're wearing the monitor, reattach it with a piece of tape.
• Return the next day to remove the monitor. If you're in the hospital already, the monitor is removed for you.
• Resume your normal activities.
• Your monitor is read by a credentialed respiratory therapist and a cardiologist.