A Holter monitor records the electrical activity of the heart for 24 to 48 hours. Holter monitoring is useful in finding a defective rhythm of the heart and relating this to any symptoms.
Many patients complain of unusual pulsations and irregular or rapid heartbeats.
While being examined and tested, however, the patient may not experience these symptoms. An EKG test given by a healthcare provider may not give a true measure of heart activity. A patient s anxiety can alter the results of an EKG test and irregular heartbeats may not occur during the test. The Holter monitor is one way to analyze the heart rhythm while the person is performing usual daily activities. The person wears a small tape recorder on a belt or shoulder strap.