When would my doctor order Holter monitoring?
A standard EKG is done in a doctor’s office or hospital. However, your doctor may recommend Holter monitoring because it allows your heart to be monitored for a longer period than would be possible with a standard EKG. This may be important if your heart condition (such as an arrhythmia) does not cause symptoms on a regular basis. You may carry out all your regular activities while wearing a Holter monitor. In this way, the Holter monitor allows detection of symptoms that occur only when you perform certain activities. A standard EKG does not allow this because the range of activities you perform while at your doctor’s office or in a hospital are relatively limited. While wearing the Holter monitor, you will also be asked to keep a diary of all your activities and symptoms.
