Who Needs a Holter or Event Monitor?
Your doctor may recommend a Holter or event monitor if he or she suspects you have an arrhythmia. An arrhythmia is a problem with the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. Holter and event monitors most often are used to detect arrhythmias in people who have: • Fainted or sometimes feel dizzy. A monitor may be used if causes other than a heart rhythm problem have been ruled out. • Palpitations (pal-pi-TA-shuns) that recur with no known cause. Palpitations are feelings that your heart is skipping a beat, fluttering, or beating too hard or fast. You may have these feelings in your chest, throat, or neck. People who are being treated for heart rhythm problems also may need to use Holter or event monitors. The monitors can show how treatments are working. Heart rhythm problems may only occur at certain times, such as during sleep or physical exertion. Holter and event monitors record your heart rhythm while you do your normal daily routine. This allows your doctor to see how your heart responds
