A 24-hour blood pressure monitor (also called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or ABPM) is a test that measures your blood pressure several times over a full day.
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor (also called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, or ABPM) is a test that measures your blood pressure several times over a full day. It’s used to get a more accurate picture of your blood pressure during normal daily activities and while you sleep.
A nurse or cardiac technician will place a blood pressure cuff around your upper arm. This cuff is connected to a small portable monitor, which you can wear on a belt or in a pouch over your shoulder. The device is small and lightweight, designed for you to wear comfortably through the day and overnight.
The monitor is programmed to automatically inflate the cuff and take readings at regular intervals, typically: every 15–30 minutes during the day and every 30–60 minutes at night.
Once the 24-hour period is complete, you’ll return to the clinic to have the monitor and cuff removed.
The recorded data will be downloaded and analysed by your doctor, who will use the information to get a detailed picture of your blood pressure over the course of a normal day, including periods of rest and activity.
