What is a 24-hour blood pressure monitor?
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor is a portable blood pressure cuff attached to a small recording device. The cuff is typically worn around your arm, and the recording device sits on a belt you can wear around your waist.
This device will take blood pressure readings throughout the day, during daily activities, and while you’re sleeping. These readings usually occur within 15- to 30-minute intervals during the day and within 60 minutes during the night.
We might recommend this if we think you may have different readings outside the clinic to those initially taken in a consultation.
This test can also help us rule out or confirm a diagnosis of many types of hypertension, such as white-coat, sustained, masked, and nocturnal.
Procedure
If we need to check changes in your blood pressure, Dr Ravi Assomull will provide you with a 24-hour BP monitor. After you finish using it, you can return it to the clinic the following day.
During your appointment, you will receive the necessary equipment for the test and be given set instructions on how to use it. We will fit the device and measure your pressure levels in the clinic for your records.
Once you get home, the device will take your readings. During the day, you may feel the cuff briefly squeezing your arm. We recommend keeping your arms straight to get the most accurate reading when this happens.
You should participate in normal daily activities while wearing the monitor, but you should avoid bathing, showering, or swimming as the monitor needs to remain on. You should also avoid heavy exercise, such as sports or gym sessions.
You may have disrupted sleep as the monitor takes your readings. This is normal. You should try to ignore the sensation and get back to sleep when possible.
Preparation
This monitor consists of electrodes attached to the chest and connected to a small battery-operated device on a strap worn around the shoulder, neck or waist. The monitor must be kept close to the body to ensure your readings are as accurate as possible.
Alongside wearing the device, you must keep a journal of your daily activities, dietary habits, sleep habits, and any notable symptoms you may experience.
Event monitors
Little preparation is needed, as this is a simple, non-invasive test that is performed over a short period of time.
During your initial appointment, we will select a time when you will be in your normal routine to give the most accurate overview of your heart’s health. You will also need to keep a journal during the readings of your daily activities, when you wake up and go to sleep, when you take your medications (if you take any), and any symptoms you may experience. This is so we can understand any unusual signs that may appear on the monitor.
Results and aftercare
When you return, we will analyse your results and calculate the following readings:
- 24-hour average blood pressure
- Average daytime blood pressure
- Average nighttime blood pressure
- Calculated percentage drop in blood pressure at night
The ‘normal’ results for these readings should look like this:
- 24-hour average BP: 125/75 mmHg or below
- Average daytime BP: 130/80 mmHg or below
- Average nighttime BP: 110/65 mmHg
- BP percentage drop at night: 10% to 20% drop
If your blood pressure is found to be high, we will suggest appropriate treatment options, such as lifestyle improvements or medication.
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor provides the most honest portrait of your heart’s true performance. It helps me uncover patterns of stress, activity, and potential risk that a single clinic measurement can’t.
