Like an EKG, a cardiac event monitor can offer valuable data to aid in a doctor’s diagnosis of your heart condition. You can keep track of symptoms that don’t frequently occur by wearing a monitor for a few weeks. There are various cardiac event recorder types, but no matter which one you choose, it must always be with you. Let’s read on to know more.
What Is A Cardiac Event Monitor?
A cardiac event monitor is a device that monitors the electrical activity that controls your heart. It’s a type of electrocardiogram (ECG) device that is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
The primary purpose of a cardiac event monitor is to record and monitor abnormal heart rhythms. It’s usually connected to a set of fine wires that attach to electrodes placed on your chest. Then, it’s able to measure, record, and store the electrical impulses that define the heart’s rhythm.
Portability is important, as the patient wears a cardiac event monitor over a time that can range from several days to weeks.
What Does A Cardiac Event Monitoring Device Look Like, And How Does It Work?
A cardiac event monitor will record your heart rhythms after receiving them wirelessly or by wires from sensors on your chest. Your healthcare physician will receive this information by phone or computer so they can review it and check for any unusual heart rhythms. They may call you and inquire about your symptoms if they notice an arrhythmia that is concerning. To assess you, they can also invite you to come in for a checkup.
What Are The Types Of Cardiac Event Monitor?
- Implanted loop recorders. These are tiny monitoring systems that a surgeon can implant under the skin near the heart. They can last several years without interference before needing a replacement.
- Patch recorders. These monitors are slightly more convenient, foregoing electrodes in favor of an adhesive patch that sticks onto the patient’s chest. It can last about two weeks, monitoring and recording heart rhythms throughout.
- Loop memory monitor. This uses electrodes that connect to the chest and stay there. When the patient feels symptoms associated with heart problems, they can activate the device, which then saves data from the past few minutes and continues to do so during and after your symptoms. These can also be automatic.
- Symptom event monitor. In contrast to a loop memory monitor, this kind of monitor records symptoms only when they occur. When you experience symptoms, you manually place the electrodes on your chest and activate the device to record abnormal rhythms.
Why Use A Cardiac Event Monitor?
Because ECGs are capable of detecting the tiny electrical impulses that signal your heart to pump blood, they are an invaluable diagnostic tool. People with heart problems such as fibrillation, arrhythmia, and chronic heart disease need constant monitoring to ensure that their heart is beating correctly. Since even a minor interruption in the precise electrical signals can cause problems, using an event monitor is a sure way of staying informed of your heart’s health.
Physicians may have remote access to the data from a cardiac event monitor, and modern units may communicate via cellular networks or Wi-Fi to transmit it periodically. Therefore, this allows cardiologists to catch problems before they become serious.
When To Use The Cardiac Event Monitor?
A cardiac event monitor is a small piece of gear you wear or carry that captures your heartbeat for your doctor to analyze. These instruments are smaller than a deck of cards yet may gather the same data as an electrocardiogram (EKG). This battery-powered device is useful for capturing aberrant cardiac rhythms that don’t frequently occur because you may carry it around with you for up to a month.
If you experience symptoms only sometimes, such as once a week or once a month, your doctor may advise you to use a cardiac event recorder. When you take your automobile to the technician, your car might stop making the sound that worries you. Similarly, during your meeting with your practitioner, your heart could not beat abnormally. Your doctor can check the recording and make a diagnosis if you have a gadget that records the beat of your heart.
What Kind Of Signals Does Event Monitor Give And What Does It Mean?
A cardiac event monitor can provide information to your doctor that addresses concerns like:
- Does your heart beat with a regular rhythm?
- How potent are the electrical signals from your heart?
- Are the electrical signals coming from your heart timed typically?
- What is the rate of your heartbeat?
Your results are average if your doctor doesn’t see any significant alterations in your heart rhythm. You might have an arrhythmia if the results of your cardiac event monitor reveal abnormal heart rhythms, such as:
- Heart block
- Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
- Atrial fibrillation
- Atrial flutter
Your doctor might decide to do additional tests or begin therapy after reviewing the results from your cardiac event monitor.
Conclusion: How Can A Cardiac Event Monitor Help Me?
Cardiac event monitors can help cardiologists diagnose, treat and predict heart issues in vulnerable patients. The heart is a vital organ that you cannot go without for even a minute. That’s why having constant monitoring allows you the peace of mind to continue with the daily activities you enjoy. In the meantime, you can rest assured that your physicians can keep an eye on your heart and bring any abnormalities to your attention.
This post is brought to you by Octagos Health. We provide remote event monitoring software solutions for cardiac patients and providers. For a demonstration or any questions, give us a call today at (281) 769-8733.
FAQ:
Can I use a cardiac event monitor without a proper prescription?
Consumer-grade, online software programs and connected electronics that members can use without a prescription. These gadgets can be implanted into clothing or worn on the body as an accessory to capture physiological data that can be downloaded to a user’s smartphone, smartwatch, computer, or tablet.
What is the difference between cardiac event monitors and Holter monitors?
Unlike Holter monitors, event monitors do not continuously track your heart rate. The electrical activity of your heart is only recorded, instead, when you are exhibiting symptoms.
The size of the instrument is another distinction between Holter monitors and event monitors. Holter monitors are more extensive than event monitors because they need to retain a lot more data than event monitors do.
Are there any risks associated with this device?
The use of a cardiac event monitor carries no substantial dangers. The areas where the sensors (electrodes) were inserted in some patients have caused slight discomfort or skin irritation. Other electrical devices rarely interfere with cardiac event monitors.
How to take care of cardiac event monitors?
You can maintain your cardiac event monitor by following these at-home care instructions.
- Sleeping on your back
- Having a sponge bath
- Sticking to your regular schedule
- Being careful around magnets, electric blankets, metal detectors, high-voltage places etc.
Do cardiac event monitors come with a medical cover?
Yes, it depends, but a few medical insurances cover the cost of acquiring a cardiac event monitor.