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How to Make the Most of Your Heart Monitor

Chinatown Cardiology Blog How to Make the Most of Your Heart Monitor
How to Make the Most of Your Heart Monitor

A heart monitor is a noninvasive diagnostic tool that provides valuable information about your heart’s health. Wearing a heart monitor allows you to record heart activity data at the moment that palpitations or other unusual symptoms occur.

Chinatown Cardiology in New York City offers portable Holter monitors to assess the electrical activity in your heart over a couple of days.

Our skilled cardiologists want to help you get the most out of your heart monitor for a more accurate diagnosis. Here, we break down key considerations when using a Holter monitor.

A quick introduction to Holter monitors

A Holter monitor is a portable device that tracks the electrical activity of your cardiovascular system as you go about your day. The device connects to electrodes attached to your skin. It’s easy to wear during the day and while sleeping.

The monitor records cardiac activity to identify heart rhythm abnormalities such as arrhythmias that aren’t detectable on electrocardiograms (EKGs) and other heart tests.

Holter monitors are useful for diagnosing the root causes of symptoms such as:

When your time with the monitor ends, you return to our office so our team can download the data and interpret the results.

4 strategies to make the most of your Holter monitor

You wear a Holter monitor for 24-48 hours, depending on the nature of your symptoms. To get an accurate reading of your heart’s electrical activity, consider these steps to ensure your heart monitor works correctly:

1. Secure all sensors

Sensor dysfunction can interfere with your recording results. Make sure the sensors are securely attached to your body and the monitoring device. Avoid oils, lotions, and other skin care products that affect how well the sensors adhere to your skin.

2. Pay attention to your symptoms

A Holter monitor records abnormal symptoms as they happen. Activate the monitor at the onset of symptoms so the device can save the data. It also helps if you keep a written account of your symptoms that our cardiology team can review when considering your diagnosis.

3. Stay away from magnets and some electronics

Devices with a strong electromagnetic field can interfere with the proper function of a Holter monitor. Avoid exposure to microwaves, metal detectors, cellphones, and electric blankets when using your monitor. Keep cellular devices at least 6 inches from the monitor.

4. Stay active with your usual activities

It’s essential that you go about your usual activities, including household chores and exercise, while wearing a heart monitor to identify triggers of heart abnormalities. If you feel dizzy or faint at any time, activate the monitor and take a rest. 

Pushing yourself too far for the sake of heart monitoring can lead to additional health complications.

Call the Chinatown Cardiology office near you to learn more about the diagnostic benefits of a Holter monitor or request your consultation online today. 

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