What is a Holter monitor?
A Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) that continuously monitors your heart’s activity over a 24- or 48-hour period. The small device helps detect symptoms that come and go and may not show up on an ECG you have at your cardiologist’s office.
Holter monitors are one type of heart monitor (also called an event monitor) that your cardiologist can use to measure symptoms outside the office. Holter monitors can help if your symptoms are frequent. If they are not, a Holter monitor might miss them, and your provider may recommend another device that you wear for a longer period.
Why would I need a Holter monitor?
A regular ECG shows your heart’s activity at a single moment during the test. However, heart symptoms and irregular rhythms can come and go. That’s why your doctor may recommend monitoring your heartbeat over a longer period while you go about your normal daily activities.
A Holter monitor may be recommended if:
- You experience fast, slow or irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias
- Your doctor needs to check if your medications are working effectively
- You have symptoms such as dizziness, fainting or a sensation that your heart is racing or skipping beats
- There’s a need to determine if your heart is receiving enough oxygen to function properly
- Your care team wants to monitor your heart rate after you have a device, such as a pacemaker, implanted
- There’s a need to monitor your heart’s activity after a heart attack
Preparing for a Holter monitor test
A Holter monitor is about the size of a deck of cards. You wear it on a belt, around your neck or with a shoulder strap, and it connects to your chest through electrodes attached with small sticky pads.
Before your appointment, your technician may ask you to avoid applying lotions, oils or other skin care products, which may interfere with the sticky pads. You should also let the technician know if you have any allergies to tapes or adhesives.
If you have hair on your chest, the technician will shave the area before attaching the electrodes.
What to expect with a Holter monitor test
During a Holter monitor test
Typically, a Holter monitor is worn for 24 to 48 hours. It will record an ECG continuously throughout that period. You will likely be asked to document your activities and symptoms in a diary while you’re wearing it so your cardiologist can compare any irregular heartbeats or symptoms picked up on the ECG with what you were doing at the time.
Your technician will give you tips for recording your activities when you receive the monitor, but here are some general tips:
- Log symptoms such as chest pain, heart fluttering or skipping a beat, dizziness and shortness of breath. Write down the time you feel symptoms and whether you were engaged in an activity.
- Note all your activities, including when you take medications, drive or sleep, and at what time those activities occur.
Tips for wearing a Holter monitor
Your technician will explain how the device works and give you instructions to follow while wearing it. In general, you will need to:
- Avoid sources of electricity: These might interfere with the monitor’s recordings, such as electric blankets, magnets, metal detectors and high-voltage areas.
- Continue your daily activities: Do all the things you normally do, including exercise, if your cardiologist asks you to, so the monitor records symptoms when they usually occur.
- Keep the monitor dry: You won’t be able to take a shower, but you may be able to take a sponge bath.
- Keep the monitor close to your body: Have it near you even while sleeping. Sleeping on your back may help keep the device close and make you feel more comfortable.
You also can’t have any X-rays while wearing the monitor.
Call your cardiologist or technician if you experience any of the following during your study:
- An electrode that falls off or makes noise
- Skin irritation or an allergic reaction caused by the adhesive patches
After your Holter monitor test
After you return the monitor and your cardiologist reviews the report and your symptom diary, your doctor will better understand which treatments you need. Often, doctors can review your report quickly, but it may take one to two weeks for the report to be generated.
Understanding your Holter monitor results
Your healthcare provider will review the results of your Holter monitor test and go over them with you. The information from the test can help show if you have a heart condition and whether your current heart medications are working as they should.
If your test is “normal,” your doctor did not see any irregular heartbeats or significant changes in the ECG patterns over the study period. Abnormal results suggest that you may have an arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation. Your cardiologist may schedule a follow-up visit to discuss additional testing options and potential treatments.
Find a location near you
Our cardiac technicians work with cardiologists at locations across Central and North Texas. We’ll work to arrange your appointments and follow-up care at a location convenient to you.
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Dallas
621 N Hall St Ste 500, Dallas, TX, 75226- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Monday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Greenville
4400 Interstate 30 W Ste 300, Greenville, TX, 75402- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Mesquite
1575 Interstate 30 , Mesquite, TX, 75150- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Midway
4431 E US Hwy 287 , Midlothian, TX, 76065- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Park Cities
9101 N Central Expy Ste 300C, Dallas, TX, 75231- Monday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Red Oak
301 E Ovilla Rd Ste 100, Red Oak, TX, 75154- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas - Waxahachie
2360 N Interstate 35E Ste 110, Waxahachie, TX, 75165- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Associates - Fort Worth
1307 8th Ave Ste 406, Fort Worth, TX, 76104- Monday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Specialists - Mesquite
5308 N Galloway Ave Ste 201, Mesquite, TX, 75150- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Cardiovascular Specialists - Rockwall
6705 Heritage Pkwy Ste 202, Rockwall, TX, 75087- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group
3333 Colorado Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Denton Heart Group - Gainesville
201 N Interstate 35 Ste 140, Gainesville, TX, 76240- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Forney
763 E US Hwy 80 Ste 240, Forney, TX, 75126- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Rowlett
7801 Lakeview Pkwy Ste 100, Rowlett, TX, 75088- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White Texas Cardiac Associates - Royse City
6257 FM 2642 Blvd Ste 100, Royse City, TX, 75189
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital Cardiovascular Clinic - Denton
3341 Unicorn Lake Blvd , Denton, TX, 76210- Monday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Tuesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Wednesday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Thursday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
- Friday: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Baylor Scott & White The Heart Hospital Heart Rhythm Center - Plano
4716 Alliance Blvd Pavilion II, Ste 300, Plano, TX, 75093Hours of Operation
Hours of Operation
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Frequently asked questions
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Can a Holter monitor detect blockage?
A Holter monitor can’t directly find blockages in your heart arteries, but it can pick up abnormal heart rhythms that might be a sign of reduced blood flow. This could suggest the need for more testing to check for blockages.
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What does a Holter monitor show?
A Holter monitor tracks your heart’s activity over 24 hours or more. It shows your heart rate, detects irregular rhythms like skipped beats or atrial fibrillation, and checks for signs of heart strain or damage. It can also help connect symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath to your heart’s activity.
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Can you drink while wearing a Holter monitor?
Yes, you can drink while wearing a Holter monitor, but it’s best to limit alcohol. Drinking too much can affect your heart rate. Keep track of what you drink and let your doctor know. Avoid drinking before bed, as it could disrupt your sleep and impact the results.
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Can you wear a bra with a Holter monitor?
Yes, you can wear a bra with a Holter monitor but try to avoid underwire bras since the metal can affect the monitor. Choose a comfortable, supportive bra that doesn’t cover the electrodes. If you have any concerns or need guidance, check with your healthcare provider.
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Can you shower with a Holter monitor?
No, you should avoid showering, bathing or swimming while wearing a Holter monitor, as water can damage it. If you have a wireless monitor, your doctor will show you how to safely disconnect and reconnect the sensors so you can shower or bathe.
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How long does it take to get Holter monitor results?
After you turn your Holter monitor in, your doctor may be able to review your report quickly, or it may take one to two weeks for a report to be generated. Ask your provider’s office about when you can expect your results.
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Can a Holter monitor detect anxiety?
A Holter monitor doesn’t detect anxiety itself, but it can record any heart changes that happen during a panic attack or anxiety. It tracks your heart’s rhythm for 24 to 48 hours, giving your doctor a better understanding. Anxiety symptoms can feel like heart problems, so both should be considered.