EKG using the Holter method is one of the types of electrocardiography. It is a very useful test, especially in the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias. It is recommended by a cardiologist in various clinical situations. What is the Holter ECG method and what are the indications for its performance?
The EKG records the electrical activity of the heart while it is active. It allows you to diagnose many diseases of this organ. Normal EKG records the work of the heart at a specific, current moment. If a rhythm disturbance is present all the time, then such an examination is sufficient to detect it. The problem is arrhythmias that appear periodically and then disappear and then reappear after a while. Some of them may occur, for example, only at night, during sleep. Such heart rhythm disturbances may not be detected by ordinary ECGs if you miss the moment when they are present. In such situations, it is helpful to performEKG using the Holter method .
What is the Holter method ECG?
This is an extended monitoring of the heart's electrical activity through a special device. It usually takes 24 hours, although it can be longer and last up to a week. It involves the placement of 3 to 12 electrodes in the chest area. The Holter device, which is a device that monitors the heart rate 24 hours a day, is also fastened to the patient on a special strap. It stores the ECG record from all hours of the test.
It should be worn at all times, also at work, at home and while sleeping. Thanks to the possibility of continuous monitoring of the heart activity, the cardiologist is able to detect arrhythmias. The device records various parameters such as the highest and lowest heart rate value. I record heart rate interruptions and episodes of tachycardia (i.e. too fast heartbeat) coming from the atria and the ventricles.
Other parameters are collected by the Holter device, helping cardiology to diagnose abnormalities. The Holter ECG recording, just like regular ECGs, consists of an isoelectric line, which is a horizontal line and signifies the lack of electrical activity of the heart.
The next elements are waves (P, Q, R, S, T and U) which are related to the stimulation of specific parts of the organ. Foldsthey are positive when they rise upwards about the isoelectric line, or negative where they are below the isoelectric line. In diagnostics, the length of intervals between individual waves is also important, known as PQ, QT and ST segments and intervals.
Based on the evaluation of all ECG components and symptoms, the physician can diagnose heart conditions such as damage, hypertrophy, ischemia, and arrhythmias and conduction disturbances.
After the specified examination time, you should visit the cardiology clinic. There the Holter is removed and the doctor uses special software to read the data from him.
How to prepare for the Holter ECG test?
Performing this test does not require any special preparation. In men with a hairy chest, it is advisable to remove it before starting monitoring. It is a good idea to wear loose fitting clothes that can be easily put on after applying the electrodes to the skin.
During the examination, you should keep an observation journal, where you record what medications were taken and at what time.
Stressful situations and effort should also be recorded, as they may interfere with the ECG image. Be careful not to get the device wet and to detach the electrodes.
Indications for wearing a Holter
There are specific clinical indications for the establishment of Holter. Such an examination should be performed in people with fainting and recurrent palpitations, if the origin of these symptoms is unknown. They are often associated with episodes of bradycardia, which is an excessively slow heartbeat (well below 60 beats per minute).
Another indication is cardiomyopathy, which is a group of congenital or acquired diseases that damage the heart muscle. The Holter test is useful in assessing the body's response to antiarrhythmic drugs and in controlling the operation of an implanted pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator.
Other indications are unexplained stroke and atrial fibrillation, one of the most common arrhythmias, especially in the elderly.