EVENT MONITOR

What is Event Monitoring?
Event Monitoring is a painless way to record your heartbeat away from the doctor's office. A Monitor is a small electrocardiogram (ECG) that you carry with you. It records your heartbeat for your doctor to review at a later time. The event monitor lets you record your irregular heartbeat as you feel it. You simply press a button. You may carry this monitor for days or weeks. You can receive your heart monitor in a hospital, test center, or doctor's office.
Your physician may recommend this type of testing whenever you experience symptoms like dizziness, palpitations, skipped beats or other sensations which may occur during normal day to day activities but not necessarily while you're in the physician's office.

Your Event Monitor
After you are shown how to use your event monitor, carry it with you all the time. When you feel a symptom, activate the monitor by pressing a button (wristwatch style) or holding it to your chest (small box or credit card style). Be sure to keep a diary.

When Using a Monitor
Stay away from electric blankets, magnets, metal detectors, and high-voltage areas such as power lines. They may affect the recording.

In the diary:

• Write the date and time for each entry you make.
• Note any symptoms you feel and what you are doing at that time.
• Note when you take your medicine.

It is Important That You
Write down any significant activities you are involved in, this could be things like walking, gardening, eating or sleeping. Your heart rate will naturally increase with activity and slow down with rest.
Write down any abnormal sensations you may experience. Remember these are the feelings you discussed with your doctor.
Time all of your diary entries. Use the clock located on your monitor. Do not use your wrist watch or clock.
Accurate, concise diary entries are important!

Your Test Results
You will be told how to return the monitor and data. A computer is usually used to analyze the data. Then a report is prepared for your doctor, who will discuss the results with you.

Important Things to Remember

• Do not take a bath, shower or swim while wearing it.
• Do not take the monitor off until the time you are instructed to do so.
• Do not remove the tape or battery from inside the monitor.

Return the monitor to the Sacramento Heart Center as soon as possible after you have removed it. BE SURE TO RETURN YOUR DIARY ALSO.