pitkäaikaisEKGhen

Pitkäaikais-EKG, also known as Holter monitoring, is a portable, battery-operated device that continuously monitors and records the electrical activity of the heart for an extended period, typically 24 to 48 hours, but sometimes up to a week. This differs from a standard electrocardiogram (EKG) which captures only a snapshot of the heart's rhythm over a few minutes. The purpose of long-term EKG monitoring is to detect heart rhythm abnormalities, or arrhythmias, that may not be present or apparent during a short-term recording.

The device consists of electrodes placed on the chest, which are connected to a small recording unit worn by the patient. Patients are instructed to go about their normal daily activities while wearing the monitor, and to keep a diary of their symptoms, noting when they experience palpitations, dizziness, chest pain, or fainting. This diary helps correlate any observed heart rhythm changes with the patient's subjective experiences.

After the monitoring period, the recorded data is downloaded and analyzed by a healthcare professional. The analysis aims to identify any irregular heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation, bradycardia (slow heart rate), or tachycardia (fast heart rate), and to determine their frequency, duration, and relationship to the patient's symptoms. Pitkäaikais-EKG is a valuable diagnostic tool for patients experiencing intermittent cardiac symptoms, helping physicians diagnose conditions, assess treatment effectiveness, and guide further medical management.