Key Details
What to know before your visit
Records heart rhythm during normal daily activities.
May help detect arrhythmias, palpitations, fainting or other cardiac symptoms.
No preparation is required, but patients cannot shower or bathe while wearing the monitor.
About the Exam
How Holter Monitor supports diagnosis
A Holter monitor is a portable, continuous ECG (electrocardiogram) device used to record the heart’s electrical activity over 24 to 48 hours or longer. It helps detect irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), unexplained fainting, palpitations, or other cardiac symptoms that may not appear during a standard ECG in a clinical setting. Worn during normal daily activities, the Holter monitor provides valuable data that allows physicians to assess heart function over time and guide appropriate treatment.
No preparations are required but be aware you cannot shower or bathe while wearing the monitor.
How to Prepare:
To prepare for your Holter monitor appointment at Erin Diagnostic Imaging, we recommend wearing loose, comfortable clothing, as small electrodes will be placed on your chest and connected to a portable recording device. It is best to avoid applying lotions, oils, or powders to your chest on the day of your appointment, as these can affect how well the electrodes adhere to the skin.
You may continue your usual daily activities unless instructed otherwise by your healthcare provider. Since the monitor cannot get wet, please shower or bathe before your appointment, as you will not be able to do so while wearing the device.
Please bring your requisition and health card to your appointment and arrive a few minutes early for check-in. Our team will provide instructions on how to wear and care for the monitor during the recording period.
What Happens During my Holter Monitor:
During your Holter monitor appointment at Erin Diagnostic Imaging, a technologist will place several small adhesive electrodes on your chest, which are connected to a lightweight portable recording device. The monitor continuously records your heart’s electrical activity over a set period of time, typically 24 to 48 hours or longer depending on your physician’s request.
Once the monitor is attached, you will be able to leave the clinic and are able to continue with your normal daily activities while wearing it. You will be asked to keep a diary of symptoms or activities during the recording period to help correlate any symptoms with your heart rhythm.
At the end of the monitoring period, you will return the device to the clinic so the recorded information can be analyzed and reviewed by a physician. The results will then be sent to your referring healthcare provider.
Appointments
Ready to book Holter Monitor?
Submit your requisition online or call the clinic and our team will help coordinate your visit.