What are holter and event monitors?
Holter and event monitors are medical devices that record the heart’s electrical activity. Doctors most often use these monitors to diagnose arrhythmias. These are problems with the speed or rhythm of the heartbeat. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or irregularly. Holter and event monitors also are used to detect silent myocardial ischemia. In this condition, not enough oxygen-rich blood reaches the heart muscle. “Silent” means that no symptoms occur. These monitors also can check whether treatments for arrhythmia and silent myocardial ischemia are working. This handout focuses on using Holter and event monitors to diagnose problems with the heart’s speed or rhythm.
