Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
A 24-hour blood pressure monitor is a small machine, about the size of a pager, to be worn on your belt with an attached blood pressure cuff that can be worn under a short-sleeved shirt. The purpose is to record your blood pressure every 15 to 30 minutes during a normal day, information that can help your doctor evaluate the effectiveness of your treatment.
Other reasons your doctor may request that you wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor include:
- "Borderline" high blood pressure
- Inability to keep your blood pressure under control
- Blood pressure problems caused by your other medicines
- Pregnancy-related high blood pressure
- Fainting spells
After 24 hours of monitoring, you will take the machine and your diary to the doctor's office. The blood pressure information is transferred from the monitor to a computer for your doctor to review and determine if your treatment program is working or if you need to make changes to it.
