Ambulatory Electrocardiogram

Cardiac Event Monitoring, Electrocardiography, Ambulatory, Holter Monitoring

Results

An ambulatory electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a test that records the electrical signals that control your heartbeat while you do your everyday activities. Results of ambulatory EKG monitoring usually are interpreted by a cardiologist. The results are generally available in a few days.

Ambulatory electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG)

Normal:

No abnormal heart rhythms are found in the EKG information collected by the recorder. Your heart rate may go up when you are active and go down when you are sleeping.

Abnormal:

Many kinds of irregular heartbeats can be detected by ambulatory monitoring. Abnormal slow or fast heart rhythms are detected. Alternating slow and fast rhythms may also occur occasionally. A slow heart rhythm in a person with a pacemaker may mean that the pacemaker is not working correctly. Abnormal patterns may mean that the heart muscle is not getting enough oxygen (ischemia) because the arteries feeding the heart are too narrow.

The results of ambulatory heart monitoring are compared with your medical history, symptoms, and other test results. You may need to have the test repeated if the results aren't clear.

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Author:	Robin Parks, MS	Last Updated: December 24, 2007
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology
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