Holter monitor

Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor (pronounced: /ˈhoʊltər/) is a type of portable device for continuous monitoring of various electrical activity of the cardiovascular system for at least 24 hours (often for two weeks at a time).

Etymology

The Holter monitor was named after its inventor, Dr. Norman J. Holter, a biophysicist who invented the device in 1947.

Description

The Holter monitor is a type of electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) used to monitor the EKG tracing continuously for a period of 24 hours or longer. A standard or "resting" EKG is one of the simplest and fastest procedures used to evaluate the heart. Electrodes (small, plastic patches) are placed at certain locations on the chest and abdomen. When the electrodes are connected to an EKG machine by lead wires, the electrical activity of the heart is measured, interpreted, and printed out for the doctor's information and further interpretation.

Usage

The Holter monitor is used to gather data about heart rhythms that may not be captured during a standard EKG. It is often used in patients who have experienced symptoms such as dizziness, palpitations, or fainting spells. The device can also be used to assess the effectiveness of cardiac medications, or to monitor cardiac function in patients with heart diseases.

Related Terms

Electrocardiography: The process of recording the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time using electrodes placed on the skin.
Cardiac medication: Medications used to treat conditions of the heart or the circulatory or vascular system.
Heart disease: A range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias), and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.