A 72-hour ECG Holter monitor is similar to a standard electrocardiogram (ECG). It measures your heart electrical activity, your heartrate and your heart rhythm over 7 days and can help in the detection of arrhythmias.An arrhythmia, also known as an irregular heartbeat, is a condition where the electrical signals that coordinate the beating of your heart don’t work properly. Every time your heart beats, electrical signals are transmitted from the top chambers to the bottom chambers of your heart. These signals ensure the blood flows through your heart and the rest of your body properly. The symptoms of an arrhythmia can vary, depending on the type of arrhythmia you have. The most common symptoms are:· Heart palpitations, including skipping a beat or extra heartbeats.· Feeling dizzy or light-headed. · Experiencing unexplained or unusual shortness of breath (also known as breathlessness).· Unexplained fainting. · A fluttering feeling in your chest or neck.· Feeling like your heart rate is too fast or too slow.· Experiencing chest pain or chest tightness. · Having an irregular pulse.· Low blood pressure. A 72-hour ECG Holter monitor records the electrical activity of your heart over a continuous 72-hour (3 days) period. During this time, you will keep the Holter monitor attached to your chest at all times to ensure the device can record any irregular or abnormal activity. A 72-hour monitor may have been recommended if you don’t experience symptoms daily or if your symptoms occur erratically. If you report daily symptoms, a 24-hour or 48-hour ECG Holter monitor may be recommended instead. However, if your reported symptoms occur rarely, your doctor may recommend a 7-day or 14-dayHolter monitor to increase the likelihood of any abnormalities being detected. Anormal electrocardiogram (ECG) only provides a snapshot of your cardiac health. This is because this cardiac test only assessed your heart for few seconds. If you don’t experience symptoms constantly, there is a good chance that no abnormalities will be detected, meaning your condition could go undiagnosed. Once your 72 hours monitoring period is complete, your results will be carefully analysed by the cardiologist. The recordings will be compared to the symptoms you reported, and the doctor will discuss your results with you in detail. If your results confirm that you have an arrhythmia, your doctor will discuss the type of arrhythmia you have and the possible treatments. The most common types of arrhythmias detected on a 72-hourHolter monitor are:· Atrial Fibrillation (AF) – The most common type of arrhythmia where your heart beats abnormally fast and at an irregular rate. · Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) –The electrical impulses of the heart transmit incorrectly from the top chambers of the heart to the bottom chambers.· Atrial Flutter – The top chambers of your heart contract more quickly than the lower chambers. · Bradycardia – Your heart rate is low -typically below 60 beats per minute. · Tachy-Brady Syndrome – Your heart has periods of rapid and slow heartbeats. · Heart Block – You have a delay or blockage in the electrical signals travelling between the top and bottom chambers of your heart, meaning your heart rate may be too slow.· Ventricular Fibrillation – This is the most serious type of arrhythmia and is life-threatening. This can make the rhythm of the heart rapid and disorganised. Because arrhythmias can be difficult to detect, it is important that you don’t take the monitor off during your 72-hour testing period. You should also continue with your usual daily activities during the 72hours, as it could be that certain activities (such as physical exercise) are triggering or worsening the symptoms of your arrhythmia.
