Cardiac Monitors

Holter Monitoring

A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that keeps track of your heart rhythm over one to two days. During that time, the device records all of your heartbeats.

Our cardiologists may recommend a Holter Monitor if they suspect there may be a problem with your heart rate or rhythm.

You may need a Holter Monitor if you are experiencing:

  • Dizziness

  • Chest pain

  • Fainting

  • Shortness of breath

  • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia/palpitations)

Sometimes you’ll be asked to wear a Holter Monitor after having an ECG. An ECG only measures heart rhythm for a short period of time and sometimes a longer period is needed to identify the problem.

Some of our patients are unable to walk far enough on the treadmill. This test is very similar to a treadmill stress echo, except that the cardiologist uses a drug instead of the treadmill to increase the heart rate, and another drug at the end of the test to bring the heart rate back down.

Heart Bug Monitor

Sometimes, rhythm problems occur very infrequently. We can also offer patients a Heart Bug device, which they keep for up to one month, to record any rhythm problems. It is very user friendly, and patients can shower and bathe with the electrodes on. The Heart Bug has been designed to quickly capture your ECG and sent to a monitoring centre where a report will be created for our cardiologists.

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitors

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is a test done to record your blood pressure at fixed intervals throughout a 24 hr period while you move around, living your normal everyday life. It uses a small blood pressure machine that is attached to a belt around your body and is connected via a tube to a cuff wrapped around your upper arm. It is small enough not to obstruct normal daily life while you can even sleep with it on.