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24-hour blood pressure monitoring for teens
ambulatory blood pressure monitoring · ABPM for teens · 24-hour BP monitor · pediatric ABPM
Your teen wears a cuff on the upper arm for 24 hours. A small device on the belt measures blood pressure by itself, day and night.
For high blood pressure at a visit, headaches, nosebleeds, before sports, or to check treatment.
⏱ Duration: usually worn for 24 hours; the report is usually ready in 1 to 2 days
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Routine. A normal day: school and walks. Better to skip hard training that day. Ask the doctor.
- Clothing. A T-shirt with a wide, loose sleeve, and a loose top over it.
- Shower. No washing with the device on. Shower before it is put on.
What to bring
- The referral
- The diary the clinic gives you, and a pen
- A list of medicines
How it goes
- The cuff goes on the upper arm, usually the non-dominant arm
- The device is clipped to the belt
- They explain how to keep the diary
- During the day, the device usually measures every 15 to 30 minutes, less often at night
- During a measurement, keep the arm still and down
- After 24 hours, the device is removed at the clinic
What you'll feel
- The cuff squeezes the arm at each measurement
- Night measurements may wake your teen. That is normal
Afterwards
- After removal, back to normal life
- The report is usually ready in 1 to 2 days
- Go over the results with your pediatrician or a cardiologist
Common questions
Can my teen go to school with the device?
Yes. Normal activity helps show how blood pressure changes.
What goes in the diary?
When they slept, ate, exercised, took medicines, and anything that bothered them.