Holter

Electrocardiogram (ECG) can assist in diagnosing cardiac arrhythmias. By using ECG machine, the change of every heart activity can be recorded.

A Holter monitor is essentially a device that records the ECG for a prolonged period, typically 24 hours or longer. By recording the electrical activity of the heart over a longer period of time, the heart rhythm at times of symptoms such as palpitations or dizziness, which may not occur all the time can be identified.. Once the system has been set up, the patient can continue daily activities as usual.

This test helps doctors:

Assess your heart activity
Assess any significant arrhythmia
Assess the effectiveness of prescribed medication
Monitor the function of pacemaker if patient has any

Suitability:

Patient who has history of arrhythmia
Patient who has symptoms such as dizziness, syncope, chest pain or shortness of breath followed by arrhythmia
Patient has history of loss of consciousness with unknown cause

Proccess:

This battery-operated machine is used to record your heart rate and heart activity, with 7 electrode dots stick on your body.
Under most circumstances, the procedure takes 10-20 minutes and you are not required to stay in hospital overnight.
You are required to wear the holter machine and ask to keep a diary of any symptoms or discomfort experienced during the time the monitor is worn, so that the doctor can pay special attention to the recordings made at those times and determine whether the symptoms in question are related to the heart.
You are required to come according to your appointment date for the wearing of the machine and come back on the next day to remove machine.

Benefits & Risks:

Benefits:

Holter is an easy carry machine, with a dimension in 70 mm x 63 mm x 18 mm, you can carry it on your shoulder. With this small box, you can have your daily activity as usual, without any influences to your daily life.

Risks:

Holter is an absolutely safe procedure, but beware not to take shower or splash an water over the machine, to avoid damage the machine or loosen of electrode dots, avoid other investigation such as X-rays, CT or MRI, and get away from magnetic devices or furniture. Also, redness, itchiness, allergic reaction may encountered with the electrode
dots.