HOLTER MONITOR

All About Holter Monitors
Holter Monitoring allows your physician to review your heart's activity for 24 hours. It allows the physician to look at each individual heartbeat. Holter Monitoring was once called an Ambulatory EKG.
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.

• The monitor itself is the size of a large portable cassette recorder. Your heartbeat is actually recorded on a cassette inside.
• EKG patches and wires will be applied to your chest, and secured with tape by the Technicians in our office.
• You will wear this monitor for a 24 hour period. We want you to continue your normal daily activities.

Your Holter Monitor
When you receive a Holter monitor, small, painless pads (electrodes) are put on your chest. These connect to the lightweight unit, which attaches to a belt or shoulder strap. You need to keep the device on for at least 24 hours and complete a diary. While wearing the monitor, follow these tips:

• Try to sleep on your back.
• Don't take a shower. A sponge bath is OK.
• Follow your normal routine. Don't avoid stress, work, or exercise.
• If an electrode falls off or the unit makes noise, call to see what you should do.

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.

Holter Monitor Diary Entries
A diary will be given to you when you are connected to the Holter Monitor. You will need to carry the diary with you while you are wearing the monitor.
Your diary is an important tool used by both the technical staff processing your report, and to the physician who will be interpreting the study. Your diary could correlate the symptoms you have been describing to your physician with changes in your heart's rhythm.

Holter Monitor
In the diary:

• Write in the time of day for each entry you make.
• Note each change in activity, including when you take medicine.
• Note any symptoms you feel.

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!

What Are Holter and Event Monitoring?
Holter and event monitoring are two painless ways to record your heartbeat away from the doctor's office. Each one is a small electrocardiogram (ECG) that you carry with you. They record your heartbeat for your doctor to review at a later time. The Holter records your heartbeat nonstop for at least 24 hours. 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 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.

Removing the Monitor
Removing the monitor involves taking the tape and EKG patches off your skin just like you would a Band-Aid. Do not try to remove the cassette or battery from 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.

Results From Your Holter Monitor
After your report is processed by our Technical Staff, a physician will then read and interpret the report. The results of your report will be ready within 4 working days. After that time you will receive a call informing you of the results. This call will come from a Sacramento Heart Center Physician, clinical staff person or from the office of the Physician who sent you to us for the Holter Monitor service.
Please allow the 4 complete working days to pass before you call to check.