Welcome to the Heart and Vascular Institute of Texas (HAVIT or The Institute), a group practice specializing in medical and surgical care of cardiovascular diseases.

HAVIT was founded to provide a comprehensive cardiac care program offering the latest in preventive, diagnostic, interventional, and rehabilitative services designed to maximize cardiovascular health. The Institute is committed to providing our patients with quality care in a pleasant surrounding that is convenient to their needs.

Your doctor has ordered a Holter Electrocardiogram (ECG). You are probably curious to know exactly what a Holter ECG is, what the recorder is for and what you are expected to do during the test.

A Holter ECG is a relatively simple, and painless procedure. There is nothing to be afraid of or to worry about. Your doctor will arrange for a technician to connect you to a small lightweight portable recording unit that you will wear from 24 to 48 hours, depending on your doctor�s instructions. Monitoring electrodes will be put on your chest. These will pick up the signals from your heart and transfer them to the recorder, where a tape recording of the signals will be made. The recording will later be transformed into a report which your doctor will analyze.

The following are instructions for an Exercise Treadmill Test.

Medications - Please take all medications as prescribed by your physician with exception of diabetic medications (insulin/pills) which need physician instructions.

Meals - NO Caffeine (i.e. coffee, tea, cola), NO Alcohol, and NO Smoking (i.e. cigars, cigarettes, pipes, chewing tobacco) from Midnight until the time of the test.

Test Schedule
If your exercise treadmill test is scheduled for the morning, DO NOT eat breakfast.

If your exercise treadmill test is scheduled for the afternoon, DO NOT eat for at least four (4) hours before the test. Breakfast should be light (cereal, toast, juice). Lunch should also be light (fruit, salad, juice).