Your physician will determine the length of time for you to wear the holter monitor. Generally, you will wear the monitor for 48 hours but you may wear the monitor for up to 14 days.

A technician will place small sensors (electrodes) on your chest that sense your heartbeat. No electricity is sent into the body. A small amount of hair may be shaved to make sure the electrodes stick. The technician will then connect the electrode to a recording device with several wires and will instruct you on how to properly wear the recording device so that it can record data transmitted from the electrodes.

You’ll be instructed to keep a diary of all the activities you do while wearing the monitor (usually 48 hours). It’s particularly important to record in the diary any symptoms of palpitations, skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath, chest pain or light headedness. You’ll usually be given a form to help you record your activities and any symptoms.

Natural electrical impulses coordinate contractions of the different parts of the heart. This keeps blood flowing the way it should. An ECG records these impulses to show how fast the heart is beating, the rhythm of the heart beats (steady or irregular), and the strength and timing of the electrical impulses. Changes in an ECG can be a sign of many heart-related conditions.

A Cardiologist will look at the waves recorded during your test to see if the impulses are traveling normally. If your electrocardiogram is normal, you may not need any other tests. If the results show an abnormality with your heart, you may need another diagnostic tests, such as an echocardiogram. Treatment depends on what is causing your symptoms.

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