ECG Cardiac Event Monitor Question!?

So I have to wear this 30 day ECG monitor, and I'm supposed to press a button when I have an "event."

I asked the nurse if it only records when I hit the button, or if it's always recording and she said only when I hit the button.
I'm confused because the instructions said it's always monitoring.

If it's always recording why do I have to press the button?
If it only records when I hit the button, why do I have to wear it all the time?

Hi Shan,
Most arrhythmias are intermittent, & hard to catch on an ECG. That's why we have loop/event monitors. Think of a Slinky (childhood toy) going down a flight of stairs. The unit records & stores a 60 second strip. Then while storing this initial strip, it records a second 60 second strip. If you don't hit the button. It dumps the original 60 second strip, & records another. This way, it leap frogs through time. It always has the preceding 60 seconds recorded & stored. Whenever you hit the record button. The monitor will include the preceding 15-30 seconds (depending on manufacturer) in the recorded strip. So, it'll be the prior 15-30 secs., plus about 45 seconds recorded after you had hit the button. Most recorders have enough memory to store five events. @that time, you download them over the phone, to a PC in the cardiologist's office. That empties the unit's memory. After enough strips (during symptoms) have been collected & reviewed. Your Doc will know what is actually going on when you feel XYZ. I hope that was clear.

What she means is that its always monitoring your heart. There is a difference between monitoring and recording.

The button will cause the computer to start recording data and storing it. It's just like a security camera. You can monitor a store via a camera, but you can only record the footage when you have pressed record on the VCR!

The point of wearing it all the time is so that when you do have an episode, you can document it in EKG form so the doctor can take a look and see exactly what happened when you had your episode. Otherwise, you'd have to sit in a hospital and wait to have one while on an EKG!

Good Luck!

The monitor should record in two cases, 1.) when you push the button to catch what you are feeling, and 2.) it should be set to "auto-capture" irregular rhythms that you may not feel as well. Read the instructions or see if there is a 1-800 number to call to ask the company if you have more questions, and different monitors have different capabilities.