Holter Monitoring

Holter Monitoring services offered in Santa Monica, CA

Heart palpitations, dizziness, and unexplained fatigue can be challenging to diagnose with a standard electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG). At Commons Clinic in Santa Monica, California, Jenica L. Ortega, MD, offers Holter monitoring, which provides a more comprehensive solution by recording your heart’s electrical activity for 2 weeks during your daily routine with a smaller sticker attached to your chest (you can shower and exercise as usual). Dr. Ortega utilizes this extended monitoring to detect irregular heartbeats. She takes time to review your results and answer all your questions. To learn more about Holter monitoring and how it can help diagnose heart rhythm problems, call the office or book online today.

Holter Monitoring Q & A

What is Holter monitoring?

Holter monitoring is a noninvasive diagnostic test that continuously records your heart’s electrical activity. You wear a small, portable device while going about your normal activities. The monitor is about the size of a deck of cards and attaches to electrodes placed on your chest.

Standard ECG/EKGs capture only a few seconds of heart rhythm in the office. Holter monitors track your heart for 24-48 hours, though some can record for up to two weeks. This extended timeframe helps catch irregular rhythms that appear sporadically.

You wear the device under your clothing and keep a diary of your activities and any symptoms you experience, such as chest discomfort, lightheadedness, or palpitations. This diary helps match your symptoms with any abnormal heart rhythms captured on the monitor.

When might I need Holter monitoring?

Dr. Ortega may recommend this test if you have:

Intermittent heart palpitations or fluttering sensations
Episodes of dizziness or fainting
Unexplained chest pain or pressure
Shortness of breath that comes and goes
A history of arrhythmias that need ongoing monitoring
Recent cardiac procedures requiring follow-up evaluation

The test proves especially useful for catching arrhythmias that don’t occur during a brief office visit. Dr. Ortega reviews the whole picture of how your heart behaves during sleep, exercise, stress, and rest.

What should I expect during Holter monitoring?

During your office visit, a technician places small electrodes on your chest and connects them to the Holter monitor. The device fits in a pouch or clips to your belt or waistband.

You can continue to work, exercise, and sleep during the monitoring period, while keeping a detailed log of the activities and any symptoms. You need to keep the device dry, so showers or baths are off-limits during the test.

After the monitoring period ends, you return to the office to have the device removed. Dr. Ortega analyzes the recorded data along with your symptom diary to identify any abnormal heart rhythms and determine the best course of treatment.

Holter monitoring provides Dr. Ortega with the extended observation time needed to catch heart rhythm problems that might otherwise go undetected. To schedule your Holter monitoring consultation, call Dr. Ortega or book online today.