Diagnostics
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring provides reliable information on your blood pressure during the day and at night. Measurements are fully automatic at hourly or half-hourly intervals. The results are used to plan blood-pressure treatment.
How is the examination performed?
In the practice a blood-pressure cuff is placed on the upper arm and connected to a small portable device. You wear this device for 24 hours – usually on a belt. The cuff inflates automatically about every 15 to 30 minutes during the day and at longer intervals at night. It is important that you follow your usual daily routine so that the recording is realistic. A brief diary of unusual activities, symptoms and sleep times is helpful.
What can it show?
The 24-hour recording gives a complete picture of your blood pressure over the day:
- whether high blood pressure is present and how pronounced it is
- the day–night pattern – blood pressure normally falls at night; if this dip is missing, that is an important finding
- so-called white-coat hypertension – elevated values caused only by the situation in the doctor’s office
- whether existing blood-pressure treatment is adequately adjusted
How accurate is the examination?
A single blood-pressure reading is only a snapshot. The 24-hour recording is the most reliable way to confirm high blood pressure and to guide treatment, because it captures many values in daily life and during sleep. Over- and undertreatment can thereby be avoided.
Benefits at a glance
- A realistic picture of your blood pressure in daily life and during sleep.
- Painless and without radiation.
- Detects hidden risk that a single reading misses.
- Targeted treatment adjustment – medication can be adjusted accordingly.
