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24-hour blood pressure monitoring
ambulatory blood pressure monitoring · ABPM · 24-hour blood pressure test
A cuff is put on your upper arm, with a small device on your belt. For 24 hours, it measures your blood pressure by itself, day and night.
To learn your real blood pressure in daily life, to check how your medicines work, or if your pressure jumps or is high only at the doctor's.
⏱ Duration: you usually wear the device for 24 hours
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Clothes. A loose shirt or T-shirt with wide sleeves. The cuff will be under your clothes.
- Shower. Take a shower beforehand. You cannot wash while wearing the device for 24 hours.
- Medicines. Take them as usual, unless your doctor says otherwise.
What to bring
- Your referral
- A list of your medicines and when you take them
How it goes
- The cuff goes on your upper arm, and the device on your belt
- You are shown how to keep a diary
- During the day, the cuff inflates about every 15 to 30 minutes, less often at night
- During a reading, stop, let your arm hang down, and keep it still
- In the diary, write down sleep, meals, activity, medicines, and when you feel unwell
- After 24 hours, you return the device
What you'll feel
- The cuff squeezes your arm, like a normal blood pressure check
- Readings at night may wake you up. This is normal
Afterwards
- Your arm may stay a little red. This goes away
- The results are usually ready in 1 to 2 days
- Live your normal life. This way the result is true
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Very high blood pressure with a severe headache, chest pain, weakness in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking: call emergency services
Common questions
Can I sleep with the monitor on?
Yes, you should. Night readings are one of the main reasons for this test.
What if the cuff slips down?
Put it back the way you were shown, and write the time in your diary.