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A Holter monitor is a portable, continuous recording device that tracks electrical activity in the heart, much like an extended electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG). The purpose of the Holter monitor is to record heart rhythms over a prolonged period, typically 24-48 hours, although some may be worn for up to 7 days. This extended monitoring can capture irregular heartbeats or arrhythmias that might not appear in a short, standard ECG performed in a clinic.

• How It Works: A Holter monitor is worn around the chest or waist, with electrodes attached to the skin to pick up the heart’s electrical signals. As the patient goes about their daily activities, the device records any variations in heart rhythms.
• Uses: It’s especially helpful for diagnosing conditions like atrial fibrillation, palpitations, syncope (fainting), and unexplained chest pain. Holter monitors are also used to assess how well certain medications work, evaluate heart health after a heart attack, or monitor the heart’s response to treatment or pacemaker functions.
• Benefits: The continuous monitoring over days provides a more comprehensive picture of heart function, especially if the symptoms are sporadic.
• Limitations: Since Holter monitors are only worn temporarily, they may not capture very rare heart rhythm events. In such cases, an event monitor or implantable loop recorder may be considered instead.