Holter ECG and blood pressure monitoring

The Holter is a small portable recorder that monitors the heart while the patient goes about their usual activities. The Holter ECG continuously records the heart rhythm for 24 to 48 hours using electrodes stuck to the chest, while the ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM) automatically measures blood pressure at regular intervals, day and night, using a cuff. These examinations are valuable because many rhythm disorders and blood pressure abnormalities are intermittent: they may not appear during a one-off consultation, but can be captured by prolonged recording in real-life conditions. The patient notes their activities and any symptoms, which makes it possible to correlate them with the recordings. The Holter ECG is particularly useful for investigating palpitations, dizzy spells or vertigo, monitoring a known rhythm disorder or checking the effectiveness of a treatment. The ABPM makes it possible to confirm hypertension, detect nocturnal hypertension or adjust antihypertensive treatment. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, fitting the Holter is quick and painless, performed by a dedicated team. The recordings are analysed by the cardiologists, and the results are provided with a detailed report.