Holter Monitoring

Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) can happen infrequently and can affect your quality of life. The cardiologists at Central Vermont Medical Center use Holter monitoring to detect heart arrhythmias that occur while you go about your daily activities.

What is a Holter monitor?

A Holter monitor is a small, battery-operated device that uses sticky electrodes attached to your skin to continuously record your heart’s activity for 24 to 48 hours. A Holter monitor can identify heart arrhythmias.

Your doctor will use the recording to understand why you have symptoms like dizziness or faintness or you feel like your heart is racing or skipping a beat. We also use Holter monitoring to verify how well your medications or pacemaker are working to treat a heart arrhythmia,

How to prepare for a Holter monitor

To set up the Holter monitor, we’ll ask you to remove your clothes above the waist, so be sure to wear a shirt that can be taken off and put on easily. Once the electrodes are attached to your skin and the Holter monitor is in place, you can put the device in your pocket, carry it like a purse, or attach it to your waistband.

Although you can go about your normal, daily activities, do not bathe, shower, swim or have X-rays while wearing the Holter monitor. Your doctor will ask you to keep a journal of your symptoms to compare to your heart activity recordings and assess your condition.

Schedule an appointment today. Call 802-371-4283