A 7-day Holter test is an extended heart monitoring procedure in which a small, portable device records a patient’s heart rhythm continuously over seven days. This is a more extended version of the standard 24-48 hour Holter monitor and is often recommended to detect intermittent or infrequent arrhythmias, which might not show up in a shorter monitoring period.

How the Test Works

• Device: A small Holter monitor, which includes electrodes attached to the chest, continuously records the heart’s electrical activity.
• Data Collection: The device records heartbeats, helping detect irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), palpitations, and other electrical heart issues over the week.
• Daily Activities: Patients usually go about their usual daily activities, documenting any symptoms (like dizziness or palpitations) in a diary to help correlate the symptoms with heart rhythm changes.

Why a 7-Day Holter is Recommended

A 7-day Holter is valuable for detecting conditions that occur sporadically, such as:

• Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
• Episodic tachycardia or bradycardia
• Unexplained fainting (syncope)
• Heart palpitations

The extended monitoring provides a more comprehensive view of the heart’s activity, helping the physician to make more accurate diagnoses and treatment plans.