A cardiac event monitor is a portable medical device used to record the heart’s electrical activity (electrocardiogram or ECG) over an extended period, typically ranging from several days to a few weeks. Unlike a standard ECG, which captures a snapshot of heart activity during a short clinical test, an event monitor is designed to capture intermittent or infrequent cardiac symptoms that may not be detected during a routine exam. This device is particularly useful for diagnosing arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), unexplained fainting (syncope), palpitations, or episodes of dizziness.
Cardiac event monitors are typically worn by patients who experience symptoms that occur sporadically. There are two main types of event monitors: looping memory monitors and post-event monitors. Looping memory monitors continuously record and overwrite heart rhythms, saving data when the patient activates the device in response to symptoms. Some can also auto-activate based on preset heart rate thresholds. Post-event monitors, on the other…
