Holter monitoring records heart activity. This occurs as the person follows his normal routine. Another name is ambulatory electrocardiogram, or ECG. A regular ECG usually lasts only 10 to 20 minutes. This might not give a true measure of heart activity. For example, patient anxiety can alter an ECG. Holter monitoring measures heart activity for a long period in a natural setting.

Reasons for using a Holter monitor include:
* to detect problems missed in a regular ECG,
* to evaluate chest pain,
* to check activity after a heart attack,
* to see if a new pacemaker works, and
* to see if drug therapy is working.

Holter monitoring usually lasts for 24 hours. The person wears a small tape recorder on a belt or shoulder strap. Wires run from the recorder to electrodes attached to the chest and must be kept dry. The person continues his or her usual activities as closely as possible. Loose fitting clothes are worn. The recorder may need to be repositioned when the person lies down.

Times, events, and symptoms are logged into a diary during the test. When technicians analyze the tape, they link the events in the diary to heart activity shown on the ECG. The types of events to record include exercise, sleeping, emotional upsets, and taking drugs. Symptoms like dizziness, chest pain, unusual heart beats, or fatigue are noted by the person as they occur.

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