How does Holter monitoring work?
Electrodes are glued to the chest, to which a small recorder on the belt is connected. The device is worn for 24 hours, leading a normal lifestyle and filling out a diary: time of sleep, physical activity, taking medications and the occurrence of complaints. The doctor then compares the recorded ECG with the diary. The method is indicated for interruptions in heart function, palpitations, fainting, as well as for assessing the effectiveness of antiarrhythmic therapy and the operation of a pacemaker.
What is functional diagnostics
Functional diagnostics evaluates not the structure of an organ, but its work: how the heart contracts, how a nerve impulse is conducted, how pressure changes during the day, how much air passes through the bronchi.
These methods complement ultrasound and tomography: structural studies show how the organ looks, and functional studies show how it copes with its task. Many rhythm disturbances, ischemia and epileptic activity are detected only here.
Basic methods
- ECG - basic recording of the electrical activity of the heart
- Holter monitoring - continuous ECG recording throughout the day
- ABPM - 24-hour blood pressure monitoring
- stress tests (treadmill test) - assessment of the heart during physical activity
- EEG - registration of bioelectrical activity of the brain
- spirometry - study of respiratory function
Why is a one-time entry not enough?
Many disorders are transient: arrhythmia occurs several times a day, ischemia occurs only during exercise, and pressure increases occur at night or at work. A regular ECG lasts tens of seconds and easily misses such episodes, so 24-hour monitoring or exercise tests are prescribed.