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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that records your heart rhythm. You usually wear a Holter monitor for one to three days, and during that time, the device will record all of your heartbeats. A Holter monitor test is usually performed after a traditional test to check your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram) isn't able to give your doctor enough information about your heart's condition.
A Holter monitor has electrodes that are attached to your chest with adhesive and then are connected to a recording device. Your doctor uses information captured on the Holter monitor's recording device to figure out if you have a heart rhythm problem.
While wearing a Holter monitor may be a little inconvenient, it's an important test that may help your doctor diagnose your condition.
- What are Holter, event, and transtelephonic monitors? American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3005149. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Holter monitoring. Texas Heart Institute. http://www.texasheart.org/HIC/Topics/Diag/diholt.cfm. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Park MK. Special tools in evaluation of cardiac patients. In: Park MK. Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/121956069-4/807984289/1588/35.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04636-7..50012-5--cesec52_232. Accessed Feb. 23, 2009.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Ambulatory blood pressure/Holter diary. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2007.
