Who Needs a Holter or Event Monitor?
You may need a Holter or event monitor if your
doctor suspects you have an
arrhythmia.
This is a problem with the speed or rhythm of your heartbeat. Holter or event
monitors are most often used to detect arrhythmias in people who have:
- Fainted or sometimes feel dizzy. A monitor may be
used if causes other than a heart rhythm problem have been ruled out.
- Palpitations (pal-pi-TA-shuns) that recur with no
known cause. Palpitations are the feeling that your heart is pounding, racing,
fluttering, or beating unevenly.
People who are being treated for a heart rhythm
problem also may need to use a Holter or event monitor. These monitors can show
how treatment is working.
In some people, heart rhythm problems only occur
during certain events, such as sleep or physical exertion. Holter and event
monitors record the heart rhythm while a person does his or her normal daily
routine. This allows the doctor to see how the heart responds to different
daily activities, which helps diagnose the problem.
Holter and event monitors also are used for elderly
people who may have trouble getting to and from clinics.
|