C. S. Mott Children's Hospital

University of Michigan Health System

Holter Monitors

Holters are another form of EKGs. They are tape recorders about the size of a small paperback book with seven wires attached to them. The wires are connected to electrodes that are placed on your chest, or chest and back. Unlike EKGs, you do all of your normal activities while wearing the holter, and you keep it on for 24 hours.

Now here's what you really want to know about holters. They're annoying, they're sticky and they're itchy. From personal experience, I would advise against throwing them away, banging them against the wall or tossing them down the stairs. You will probably get yelled at. Do feel free, however, to yell and scream at them and give them the occasional evil look to remind them who's in charge.