Cardiac Event Recorder

What is a cardiac event recorder?

A cardiac event recorder is a battery-powered portable device that you control. It acts like a portable electrocardiogram (EKG) that tracks cardiac electrical activity when you have symptoms.

Why would I need a cardiac event recorder?

When you visit the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston for a cardiac consultation, your cardiologist may perform an EKG test to assess heart health. However, the in-office EKG only provides information about your heart at that one moment in time.

You may need a cardiac event recorder if you have an abnormal heart rhythm with symptoms that come and go. The primary purpose of the cardiac event recorder is to record your heart rate and rhythm when you’re having symptoms or an event.

What are the types of cardiac event recorders?

The Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston offers two types of cardiac event recorders:

Looping memory monitor

The looping memory monitor is a small device programmed to record cardiac activity for a set period of time, such as five minutes. With this device, you must push a button to start the recording.

If you faint and push the button after you recover, the looping memory monitor records your EKG during the time you felt faint and immediately after.

Symptom event monitor

The symptom event monitor is a hand-held device or device you wear on your wrist. When you have symptoms or an event, you place the monitor on your chest and activate the start button.

Unlike the looping memory monitor, the symptom event monitor only records cardiac data after you activate the start button.

With cardiac event recorders, you can wear the devices for an extended period of time. By comparison, you only wear a Holter monitor for a 24-48 hour period.

How do I transmit my cardiac event recorder information?

You use your telephone to transmit your cardiac event recordings to the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston. Your cardiologist reviews the details of how to transmit the data during your cardiac event recorder consultation.

In most cases, you transmit the recordings by placing the mouthpiece of your phone over the microphone on the front of the monitor. Your cardiologist at the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston reviews the data and may contact you to discuss your symptoms and request you come to the office for an EKG.

A cardiac event recorder allows you to take control of your heart health. To schedule a consultation at the Heart Care Center of Northwest Houston, call the office nearest you or book online today.