ECG Holter monitoring | Willow Support

by Willow Support & Polyclinic Dr. Obad

What is ECG Holter monitoring?

A Holter monitor test (Heart Monitor, Ambulatory ECG Monitor) is a lightweight, wearable device that records the electrical activity or your heart continuously. If you have experienced symptoms such as palpitations, skipping beats, dizziness, fainting, chest pain or shortness of breath and a routine resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) examination has not identified a problem,your doctor may ask you to have a holter monitoring ECG test.

One of the benefits of our Holter device is that you are free to work, exercise, or do any other regular daily activities, In fact, many patients forget that they are wearing a ECG device.

ECG Holter monitor tests can be done for varying lengths of time. The tests can last for 24, 48 or 72 hours, or five to seven days. The device will track your heart's rhythm and record this for someone to analyse later.

The test can provide your doctor with much more data regarding your cardiac rhythm on which to base any medical decisions concerning your health.

Fitting and wearing the monitor

The device itself is about the size of a mobile phone, so you can carry it on you without it affecting your day to day routine. You wear the device around your waist or in your pocket, and has three leads attached to this.

We will visit you and connect the deive, this will be done by a presfessional technision. They will put three/five sticky patches (electrodes) onto your chest. These will have the leads connected to the device attached to them. It should take around 20 minutes for the fitting.

Fitting the device is completely painless, and you will need to wear the device both day and night. You can carry on with your normal routine and activities. Do not adjust the device without speaking to your cardiac physiologist first.

Important Note
During the fitting, they will show you how to remove and reconnect the device when you have a shower or bath. It is important that you do not get the device wet. Once you have finished your shower or bath, you must reconnect the device immediately. If you are going to be wearing the monitor for longer than 48 hours, we will give you extra electrodes.

Avoiding interference

It is important to be aware of possible interference that could affect the device and its recording of your heart rhythm. Devices such as mobile phones, tablets and computers can be used as normal. But you should not:

stand in front of a microwave that is being used
sleep with an electric blanket that is switched on

Returning the device

Once you have completed the test, please remove the device and the patches and keep it safe. we will collect the device. Prompt return of the device is essential to avoid delays in testing for other patients.

Results

Once you have returned your device, one of the team will analyse your recording and produce a report within 72 hours, All the results are put into the electronic patient record system. These results are then available immediately for your doctor to look at.