Cardiac Event Monitors

Cardiac event monitors are portable, battery-operated devices used to record the heart's electrical activity (ECG) over an extended period, typically from several days up to a month or more. Unlike a Holter monitor, which continuously records, event monitors are designed to capture heart rhythms only when a patient experiences symptoms (e.g., palpitations, dizziness, chest pain) or when an irregular heart rhythm is detected automatically. Patients often activate the device manually when symptoms occur, allowing for specific events to be recorded and transmitted, usually wirelessly or via phone, to a monitoring center for analysis. These monitors are crucial for diagnosing transient or infrequent arrhythmias that might not be captured during a standard ECG or a 24-hour Holter monitoring period, helping physicians pinpoint the cause of intermittent cardiac symptoms and guide appropriate treatment.