What is the purpose of Holter monitoring in patients?

Holter monitoring is primarily conducted to continuously record heart activity for an extended period, typically 24 to 48 hours, as patients engage in their usual daily activities. This provides a comprehensive assessment of the heart’s electrical activity, allowing healthcare providers to detect any irregularities that may not emerge during a standard ECG performed in a clinical setting. The purpose of monitoring during normal activities is crucial because many cardiac arrhythmias or symptoms, such as palpitations, may only occur during regular day-to-day routines rather than while at rest or during a controlled testing environment.

In contrast, the other options focus on different types of cardiac assessments. Conducting a stress test aims to evaluate the heart's performance under stress typically induced by exercise; observing heart rhythm in a resting state is limited and does not capture the dynamic changes that occur in daily life; and measuring heart rate variability during treadmill exercise measures cardiovascular fitness and autonomic function specifically during physical exertion rather than the natural rhythm pattern in real-world settings. Thus, Holter monitoring’s ability to reflect heart activity in everyday situations is what sets it apart and highlights its purpose.