Short answer: A Holter monitor is a small recorder, worn with a few electrodes on the chest, that records your ECG continuously for 24 to 48 hours (longer devices exist). It catches rhythm problems that come and go and may not appear on a short ECG. The report summarises the heart rate across the day and night and lists any irregular beats or episodes.
At a glance
| What it is | A small recorder worn for 24 to 48 hours, sometimes longer |
|---|---|
| Why | Rhythm problems that come and go and may not show on a short ECG |
| On the report | Average, lowest and highest heart rate, pauses, extra beats, episodes, and your diary of symptoms |
| Your part | Note the time of any symptom during the recording |
| Keeping it | The summary with the date, next to the ECGs and the symptoms |
| Watch data | Can complement it over weeks, but is not a Holter |
How it is done
The electrodes are attached at the clinic and you go home with the recorder. You keep a diary of what you do and of any symptoms (palpitations, dizziness, chest discomfort) with the time, so the doctor can match symptoms to the recording. You avoid showers unless told otherwise and return the device the next day.
What the report contains
| On the report | Unit | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum, average, maximum heart rate | bpm | the range of heart rates over the recording |
| Ventricular ectopic beats (VEBs, PVCs) | count / % | extra beats from the lower chambers |
| Supraventricular ectopic beats (SVEBs, PACs) | count / % | extra beats from the upper chambers |
| Pauses | seconds | gaps between beats longer than a set limit |
| Runs or episodes (e.g. atrial fibrillation) | time and duration | periods of an abnormal rhythm |
| Symptom correlation | — | what the rhythm was when you noted a symptom |
Some ectopic beats are found in most healthy people over 24 hours; the number and the type are what the doctor looks at. The diary is often as important as the recording: a symptom without any rhythm change is also useful information.
Keeping the report in your record
In Anpheros Daily you photograph the report or upload the PDF, and it goes into Documents under the person it belongs to, linked to the appointment it came from, next to the referral and the doctor's letter. On the Plus and Max plans "Read with AI" gives a plain-language summary and explains the terms, with the sentence each explanation came from marked; it stays labelled as AI, separate from what the specialist wrote. In the record the report is stored as an HL7 FHIR document, so you can share it with any doctor for a period you choose. Our guide on sharing your record with a clinic explains how.
What this page does not do
It explains what the investigation is and how its report is usually organised. It does not interpret your report or images, diagnose or recommend treatment. Reading the recording or images is the specialist's job; deciding what the report means for you is your doctor's.
Related pages
- ECG (electrocardiogram) report explained
- How accurate are smartwatch health measurements? Heart rate, SpO2, sleep and ECG
Sources
Frequently asked questions
Why do I need to keep a diary during a Holter test?
So the doctor can see what your heart rhythm was when you felt a symptom, and what you were doing.
Are ectopic beats on a Holter normal?
Some are common in healthy people. Your doctor reads their number and type with your symptoms.
Can I shower with a Holter monitor?
Usually not; follow the instructions of the clinic that fitted it.
What if nothing happened during the recording?
Doctors may use a longer monitor or an event recorder for symptoms that are rare.
Try it in Anpheros Daily
Keep your scan and test reports in one place in Anpheros Daily, ready to show at your next visit.
How it works in the app →
Anpheros builds a medical record that the patient controls and can share with any clinic, on an HL7 FHIR R4 platform, based in the EU. These guides help you understand and organise your health; they do not replace your doctor.
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