Question 1

Your doctor uses the holter monitor to

Accepted Answer

• To detect any heart rhythm abnormalities
 • To help determine whether your medications need adjusting
 • To match symptoms with heart activity

Question 2

How you prepare

Accepted Answer

• Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, plan to bathe before this  appointment. Most monitors can’t be removed and must be kept dry once  monitoring begins.
 • Avoid oily or greasy skin creams and lotions the day of the test, as the cream can interfere with the electrode-skin contact.
 • Take your usual medications unless otherwise directed by your physician.
 • You can eat, drink and take medications as you normally would.

Question 3

What to wear

Accepted Answer

• Wear a shirt that can be easily removed to place the leads on the chest.

Question 4

What to expect

Accepted Answer

• A technician will place electrodes that sense your heartbeat on your  chest. These electrodes are about the size of a silver dollar. For men,  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. The recording device is about the size of a deck of cards.
 • You’ll be instructed to keep a diary of all the activities you do  while wearing the monitor. It’s particularly important to record in the  diary any symptoms of palpitations, skipped heartbeats, shortness of  breath, chest pain or lightheadedness. You’ll usually be given a form to  help you record your activities and any symptoms.
 • Once your monitor is fitted and you’ve received instructions on how  to wear it, you can leave your doctor’s office and resume your normal  activities.
 • The cardiac technician will instruct you to press the Event button  when experiencing symptoms. You will be provided with a diary in which  you can record any symptoms experienced including the time and activity  level associated with the symptom. If you do not experience any symptoms  during the monitoring period, return the diary and write “no symptoms”  in the diary.
 • You will be instructed to remove the monitor at a specified time and to discard the used, as well as unused, electrodes.
 • The equipment should be removed by hand only.
 • Place the equipment in its case and return by the time specified. It  is important to bring the monitor back at the scheduled time; another  patient is waiting.
 • Once the equipment is returned, the data are analyzed, and then  reviewed by a cardiologist. Once finalized, a report will be sent to  your doctor. Your doctor’s office will notify you of the results.

Question 5

After the procedure

Accepted Answer

• People can resume their normal daily activities, including driving,  after a holter monitor. The data will be reviewed by a cardiologist and  the results will be reported to your doctor.  If necessary, you may be  referred for additional testing or a consultation with a physician.

Holter Monitors

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