TyronePA.com

When it comes to evaluating a person’s heart function, there are times when the doctors that specialize in evaluating and treating the heart require more information than can be captured from a single heart test. That is why for some patients, cardiologists may order holter monitoring.
Holter monitoring is an evaluation of the heart that uses technology to capture information about the electrical activity of a person’s heart over a 24-hour period. Patients who need holter monitoring generally do it as an outpatient.
A patient goes about their normal daily activities while wearing the monitor. The monitor is worn for a twenty-four hour period and throughout that time it captures information on the wearer’s heart.
“To hook up the monitor, small electrodes are placed on the patient’s chest and the electrodes are attached to the monitor that records the heart’s activity,” said V. Janakiraman, M.D., cardiologist on the medical staff at Tyrone Hospital.
The monitor is about the size of a cell phone. The information the monitor collects about heart function is stored on a memory card that is about the size of a postage stamp.
The monitor can be clipped on a person’s belt or waistband or worn over the shoulder like a purse. Once the data is collected, the memory chip is sent to the hospital’s cardiologists for evaluation.
Tyrone Hospital’s cardiologists have technology in their office that allows them to access the information on the data card.
Dr. Janakiraman explained that holter monitoring gives doctor’s more information about heart function because it records how the heart functions over a period of time, during the course of daily activities.
“It is like an extended EKG, with an EKG we learn about the heart with the patient at rest for a given point in time. With holter monitoring we get information about how a patient’s heart functions when they are doing daily activities such as unloading their groceries, climbing stairs, or eating dinner. It gives us much more information to help us evaluate the heart.”
Dr. Janakiraman said holter monitoring is often used in addition to other heart tests.
The Holter monitoring system used at Tyrone Hospital is comfortable and convenient for patients. The monitoring units are small and patients simply need to push a button for the monitor to capture the heart’s information. To supplement the data that the monitor records, patients are asked to note significant information while they are wearing the monitor. For example if they experience palpitations or become short of breath, the patient is asked to make a note of that information. The patient’s notes along with the data from the monitor are reviewed by the cardiologist.
In addition to holter monitoring, Tyrone Hospital also provides telemetry, electrocardiograhy and echocardiography for evaluation of heart function. Dr. Jankiraman also performs pacemaker insertion at Tyrone.
V. Janakiraman, M.D., and his partner Mukul Bhatnagar, M.D. are cardiologists who practice at Tyrone Hospital. Their Tyrone practice is in addition to their practice at Altoona Regional Health System. Between them they have provided services in Tyrone for more than 25 years.

The Tyrone Irish Heritage Celebration is fast approaching, and area residents are encouraged to show their pride by flying heritage flags. Irish tri-color flags and Irish Tyrone crest flags are now available for purchase for personal use. A flag to be flown in downtown Tyrone can be sponsored in memory of someone as another option. Those interested should look for the flag coupon on page three of today’s Daily Herald for more information, or contact the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce office by email at rose@tyronechamber.com or phone 684-0736, fax: 684-6070. Some past and new plans in the making for this year’s Tyrone Irish Heritage Celebration are Irish Flags throughout town, a balloon release kickoff, Luck of the Irish Parade, a Clover Leaf Merchants’ Sale, Sunday Spiritual Services in concert with many groups, Tyrone Community Partnership and Wesley UM Church Irish Stew Dinner with Michael O’Brian Band, children’s readings at the Tyrone-Snyder Public Library, Blair County Genealogical Society display at the Tyrone History Museum, Daily Herald coloring contest, and much more! (Courtesy photo)

Snow blanketed the roads and sidewalks this morning, again causing delays and cancellations at area schools and at other previously planned events. Forecasters called for today’s snow to change to light sleet or freezing rain by afternoon, causing travel to be that much more difficult. Tonight’s weather calls for light freezing rain or snow likely in the evening, tapering to scattered snow showers after midnight. Saturday there is a 50 percent chance of more snow showers, and a winter weather advisory will remain in effect until 1 a.m. (The Daily Herald/Kris Yaniello)

Tyrone junior Nate Dane (23), cuts through the Penns Valley defense to score during the second half of the Eagles 53-30 District 6-AA semifinal win at the Hollidaysburg Senior High School gym on Wednesday evening. (The Daily Herald/Mary Michaels)

Tyrone senior 171-pounder Shayne Tate (right) and Mount Union’s Zack Hicks wrestle in the District 6-AA third place consolation finals at the Altoona Fieldhouse on Saturday. Hicks edged Tate 3-2, with both wrestlers qualifying for the Regionals next weekend at Johnstown. (The Daily Herald/Mary Michaels)