Heart monitors help doctors diagnose heart rhythm problems that may not show up during regular checkups. When wearing a heart monitor, you can continue most daily activities while the device records your heart’s electrical activity.
Understanding what to expect makes the monitoring process easier and helps ensure accurate results for your healthcare team.
This article explores heart monitors and what you can expect.
Types of Heart Monitors
Healthcare providers use different heart monitors based on your needs and symptoms.
Holter Monitor
A Holter monitor records your heart activity continuously for 24 to 48 hours. This small, portable device connects to electrodes on your chest. Many doctors use a Holter monitor for Afib detection and other rhythm abnormalities.
About the size of a small camera, it’s lightweight and attached to a belt or strap. Most patients find it comfortable enough to sleep with overnight.
Event Monitor
Event monitors record heart rhythms only when activated by you or when they detect irregular rhythms. They can monitor for weeks or months, making them ideal for infrequent symptoms.
Some are worn continuously, while others are used only during symptoms. The extended monitoring period helps capture sporadic irregularities.
Implantable Loop Recorder
For long-term monitoring, doctors may recommend an implantable loop recorder. This tiny device is placed under the skin in a minor outpatient procedure and can monitor heart rhythms for up to three years.
It records automatically during abnormal rhythms, and patients can also activate it when symptoms occur. The data helps doctors diagnose elusive heart issues.
Preparing for Your Heart Monitor
Before wearing a heart monitor, your healthcare team will explain the specific instructions for your device. Preparation typically involves simple steps to ensure accurate monitoring of results.
Shaving for Electrode Placement
Men may need to shave small areas of chest hair where electrodes will be placed. This helps electrodes stick properly and improves signal quality. Clean, dry skin provides the best electrode contact for accurate recordings.
Clothing Tips
Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing during the monitoring period. Tight clothes can interfere with electrode placement or make wearing the device uncomfortable. Button-front shirts make it easier to attach and check the monitor.
Removing Jewelry or Metal Objects
Remove any jewelry or metal objects near the electrode sites. These items can interfere with the electrical signals the monitor needs to record. Your healthcare team will provide specific guidelines about what to avoid.
Daily Activities While Wearing a Heart Monitor
Most heart monitors allow you to continue normal daily activities with minor modifications. Understanding what you can and cannot do helps ensure successful monitoring while maintaining your regular routine.
Activities You Can Continue
Regular daily activities like walking, light exercise, and work are usually permitted while wearing a heart monitor. Many patients successfully wear monitors during office work, shopping, and social activities without problems.
Sleeping with a heart monitor is generally comfortable once you adjust to wearing the device. Most monitors are designed to be worn continuously, including during sleep periods. Side sleeping may require minor position adjustments.
Eating, drinking, and taking medications will continue normally unless your doctor provides specific restrictions. The monitor should not interfere with your regular meal schedule or medication routine.
Activities to Avoid
Water activities like showering, bathing, or swimming are typically restricted while wearing most heart monitors. Water can damage the device and affect electrode adhesion. Your healthcare team will provide specific instructions about water exposure.
Avoid vigorous exercise or activities that cause excessive sweating unless approved by your doctor. Heavy sweating can loosen electrodes and affect signal quality. Light exercise is usually acceptable.
Stay away from strong magnetic fields and electrical equipment that might interfere with the monitor. This includes MRI machines, metal detectors, and some medical devices.
Recording Symptoms and Activities
Keeping an accurate diary of symptoms and activities is crucial for meaningful heart monitor results. Your healthcare team relies on this information to correlate symptoms with recorded heart rhythms.
What to Record
Write down the time and description of any symptoms you experience. Include details about chest pain, dizziness, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats. Be specific about when symptoms start and how long they last.
Record your daily activities, especially during symptom episodes. Note what you were doing when symptoms occurred, such as climbing stairs, eating, or resting. This information helps doctors understand potential triggers.
Document medications taken during the monitoring period. Include prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. Some medications can affect heart rhythms and the interpretation of monitor results.
Using Electronic Diaries
Many modern heart monitors include electronic diary features through smartphone apps. These digital tools make recording symptoms and activities more convenient and accurate than paper diaries.
Electronic diaries often include preset symptom categories and severity scales. This standardization helps healthcare providers interpret your experiences more effectively. Some apps also allow you to add photos or voice notes.
Automatic activity tracking through connected devices can supplement your manual entries. However, manual symptom recording remains essential for accurate correlation with heart rhythm data.
After Monitoring: Next Steps
After your monitoring period, return the device following your healthcare team’s instructions — this may involve prepaid shipping or in-person returns for immediate data review. Results are analyzed within days, though complex cases may take longer.
Normal results indicate regular heart rhythms, while abnormal findings like atrial fibrillation or pauses may require further evaluation. Your doctor will explain the results and recommend treatment options, such as medications, lifestyle changes, or additional procedures, based on your specific needs.
Wearing a Heart Monitor in Irmo, SC
At SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation, our experienced healthcare providers offer comprehensive cardiac evaluation and monitoring services. We use the latest heart monitoring technology, including an outpatient echocardiogram, to provide accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans.
Reach us today at (803) 749-1111 or schedule your appointment by filling out our appointment request form. We look forward to serving you!
