Heart monitoring may be done when arrhythmia is suspected but not seen on a resting EKG.
Holter Monitor
A Holter Monitor (may also be called 24- or 48-Hour Monitor) provides heart monitoring with an EKG reading done over a period of 24 or more hours. Several electrodes are attached to the patient's chest and connected to a small portable EKG recorder by lead wires. The patient goes about his/her usual daily activities (except for activities such as taking a shower, swimming, or any activity causing an excessive amount of sweating which would cause the electordes to become loose or fall off) during the recording times.
ACT Monitor
The 21-day or ACT Monitor can be taken off for daily showers. The ACT monitor comes with a cell phone for communication between you and Lifewatch monitoring center. The cell phone will automatically transmit anything you record from the monitor to Lifewatch. The monitor also scans your heart continuously looking for changes or abnormalities. If Lifewatch determines that you need to see a physician about a particular event, they will call you using the included cell phone. You will be asked to manually record and send at least one recording per day as a daily baseline, as well as manually record anytime you feel any symptoms.