Daily monitoring of the ECG according to Holter: indications and features
Daily cardiac monitoring by means of an electrocardiograph is also called holter monitoring, or XM.This is a completely painless and safe procedure.
Contents: What is Holter research used for?Indications for the implementation of daily monitoring of ECG How is the daily monitoring of ECG?Contraindications to 24-hour monitoring ofWhat is the Holter study used for?
The method allows to assess changes in the functional activity of the organ during the day.This non-invasive hardware study is currently one of the most widely practiced methods for diagnosing the cardiovascular system.
In clinical practice, the daily ECG-study allows to identify arrhythmias of various nature, as well as ischemic changes in the myocardium.Holter research is widely used to monitor the antianginal and antiarrhythmic treatment.
Indications for daily monitoring of ECG
Holter study is administered to patients who have:
- heartbeat;Interruptions in the heart;
- ;
- occasionally occurs dizziness;
- episodes of loss of consciousness;
- other complaints indicating the presence of arrhythmia;
- pain behind the sternum;
- various forms of ischemic heart disease;
- pathology of the conducting system;
- syndrome of increasing the Q-T interval;
- mitral valve prolapse;
- hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy;
- periodic increases in blood pressure;
- pathology from the "pacemaker".
Important: daily monitoring of ECG is indicated in patients with sinus node weakness syndrome, diagnosed with myocardial infarction, and also resuscitated after sudden cardiac death.
XM helps to determine the degree of effectiveness of the prescribed pharmacological agents for antiarrhythmic action.
Recommended to read:How is 24-hour ECG monitoring performed?
Holter monitoring does not require any special preparation of the patient for examination.
For XM, a small portable recorder is used, which the patient wears on the belt.The device "reads" heart readings around the clock and provides data transfer to the hard disk of the computer.The program developed for this device captures and analyzes all types of arrhythmias, as well as ischemic changes in the heart muscle( including - and not related to the pain syndrome).The recording of the electrocardiogram is carried out in parallel in 3 channels, therefore the data of such an investigation are the most reliable and objective.
Note: daily monitoring of ECG provides an opportunity to not only detect pathology with maximum accuracy, but also significantly improve the effectiveness of therapeutic measures in patients suffering from atherosclerosis, hypertension and inflammation of the myocardium, as well as in patients who have had a heart attack.
It is assumed that during the monitoring period the patient should conduct his usual lifestyle, following all the recommendations of the cardiologist.If the general condition allows, the patient can work and( or) make regular walks.The patient gets a special diary, in which he introduces the circumstances and time of occurrence of negative sensations from the cardiovascular system.
Subsequently, these records are compared with objective data and a daily ECG.This is necessary for the doctor to obtain an objective picture and to reveal its correspondence to subjective sensations.
The results of daily ECG monitoring are completely ready the very next day after the research.
Contraindications to daily monitoring of
There is no contraindication to this hardware study.At the doctor's discretion, it can be prescribed to any patient with heart problems, as well as other organs and systems.
As the research is completed and the data is fully received, the physician is able to diagnose, evaluate the dynamics of the process with maximum accuracy, and determine or correct therapeutic tactics.
Important: Holter study in most cases allows you to make a long-term forecast.
Vladimir Plisov, medical reviewer
