Question

When is a Holter monitor useful in diagnosing an arrhythmia?

A. When the arrhythmia is severe.
B. When the patient has tachycardia.
C. When the patient is morbidly obese.
D. When the arrhythmia occurs at irregular intervals.

Answer 1

A Holter monitor is especially beneficial for diagnosing arrhythmias that occur at irregular intervals by providing continuous heart rhythm tracking over 24 to 48 hours.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Holter monitor is useful in diagnosing an arrhythmia particularly when the arrhythmia occurs at irregular intervals. This device is able to record the electrical activity of the heart over an extended period, typically 24 to 48 hours, which provides a more comprehensive assessment than a standard electrocardiogram (ECG) that only captures a moment in time. Therefore, if a patient experiences sporadic symptoms or the arrhythmia does not manifest during a brief ECG, a Holter monitor significantly increases the chance of capturing and diagnosing the irregularity.