Cardiac Holter
The cardiac ECG Holter is a non-invasive examination that records the heart's electrical activity for 24 continuous hours. At the pharmacy we use MyPatch SL, a lightweight and discreet monitor-patch, with no belt or cumbersome wires, designed to accompany normal daily activity. It works in a multi-channel configuration — 2 channels on the patch plus an additional lateral lead at position V5 (third channel) — for a more comprehensive assessment of the tracing.
It is the reference examination for investigating palpitations, cardiopalmus, dizziness, suspected atrial fibrillation or arrhythmias that occur only occasionally: a standard ECG lasts 10 seconds, the Holter observes the heart for an entire day.
The telemedicine cardiological report includes QRS count, ventricular and supraventricular events (isolated, couplets, runs, bigeminy, trigeminy, tachycardia), pauses, prolonged RR intervals, atrial fibrillation, heart rate variability analysis (HRV: PNN50, SDNN, RMSSD), QT/QTc and ST segment, with a clinical summary and representative tracings.
Frequently asked questions
When is a cardiac Holter useful?
It is indicated when the doctor wants to assess heart rhythm under real-life conditions: palpitations, episodes of cardiopalmus, dizziness, suspected atrial fibrillation or arrhythmias, follow-up after a cardiovascular event, checking the effectiveness of a therapy, or symptoms that occur only occasionally. A 10-second ECG may not be sufficient: the Holter observes the heart for 24 hours.
How long does the placement take?
Applying the patch at the pharmacy takes only a few minutes. The recording normally lasts 24 hours; afterwards you return to the pharmacy to have the device removed. Data are sent via telemedicine and in most cases the report is available by the next working day.
What does the report contain?
The cardiological report includes a clinical summary, total QRS count, ventricular and supraventricular events (isolated, couplets, runs, bigeminy, trigeminy, tachycardia), analysis of pauses and prolonged RR intervals, atrial fibrillation, representative intervals and tracings, and heart rate variability (HRV: PNN50, SDNN, RMSSD). QT/QTc measurements and ST segment are also included.
Do I need to prepare in any way?
The skin must be clean and dry in the application area, free from creams or oils. For those with a particularly hairy chest, shaving the area where the patch will be placed beforehand improves adhesion and reduces tracing artefacts; we can also tidy up the area locally at the pharmacy before placement if preferred.
What can I do during the 24 hours?
It is recommended to carry on as normal a day as possible so the tracing reflects real activity: work, sleep, walk and do your usual activities. Bath, shower, sauna or swimming pool must be avoided as the device must not get wet. It is useful to note the times of any symptoms (palpitations, dizziness, chest pain) to correlate them with the tracing.
What is handed over at the end of the examination?
At the end you receive the telemedicine cardiological report, including the main ECG tracings, the clinical summary and all recorded measurements, which you can take to your GP or specialist.
