What Does a Holter or Event Monitor Show?
A Holter or event monitor may show what’s causing symptoms of an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. A Holter or event monitor also can show whether a heart rhythm problem is harmless or requires treatment. The monitor may alert your doctor to medical conditions that can result in heart failure, stroke, or sudden cardiac arrest. If the symptoms of a heart rhythm problem occur often, a Holter or event monitor has a good chance of capturing them. You may not have symptoms while using a monitor. Even so, your doctor may learn more about your heart rhythm from the test results. Sometimes, Holter and event monitors can’t help doctors diagnose heart rhythm problems. If this happens, talk with your doctor about other steps you can take. One option may be to try a different type of monitor. Wireless Holter monitors and implantable loop recorders have longer recording periods. This may allow the monitor to get the data that your doctor needs to make
