If you are currently dealing with or have in the past worked with heart arrhythmia, the term Holter monitor may not be a new term for you. In this day and age, wearing a heart monitor is a crucial tool for cardiologists. It is a useful device that helps them understand the heart condition in depth. However, is wearing a heart monitor for 2 whole weeks considered a normal practice? Lets find out.

What is a Holter Monitor?

This miniature device is strapped to your chest, and its main function is to record your hearts beats continuously when you are wearing it. You can take it as having an ECG machine on you 24/7, but it is more portable and convenient. Whats better is that you can even have it on while sleeping.

Is It Normal To Wear A Heart Monitor for 2 Weeks?

Most of the time, cardiologists recommend wearing a Holter monitor for merely 1 to 2 days. This period is enough for them to collect full 24-hour data, sufficient for preliminary evaluations. However, do not get shocked if they ask you to wear your heart monitor for 2 weeks. It is quite normal and, in fact, has its own name the 14-day Holter Monitor Test.

We understand if you are wondering about the need to extend this time period. Well, Dr. Shanti Bansal, a board-certified cardiologist in cardiovascular electrophysiology, says that wearing your heart monitor for 2 weeks provides critical insights, which is highly valuable to diagnosing and treating arrhythmias, including intermittent atrial fibrillation. So, there is no need to put your thinking cap on if your cardiologist asks you to carry this device for more than a few days.