No special preparation is required for a Holter monitor, although patients may wish to shower or bathe before the monitor is fitted because they will not be able to while wearing the monitor. The patient should also inform the physician about any allergies to tape or adhesives.

As with the in-office EKG, this is a painless test in which electrodes connected by wires to the Holter monitor are taped to thoroughly cleansed areas on the patient’s skin. For men, a nurse may shave the necessary areas of the chest.

Once the electrodes are firmly in place, patients are instructed on how to use the monitor and then sent home to go about their usual daily activities. The only activities that must be avoided are the following:

Patients are also told to keep a diary of activities and any physical symptoms that take place while they are being monitored.

After the prescribed testing period is over, the recorded results are analyzed. Depending on the results, further testing or treatment (e.g., taking medications called antiarrhythmics) may be advised.