24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring test.
What is involved?
A 24-hour ambulatory blood-pressure monitor is a simple test that involves recording your blood pressure for up to 24-hour period. You will need two appointments with our nursing team who will contact you with an appointment.
Before your appointment
You do not need to make any special preparations, unless you have had specific advice from your doctor.
Your appointment
When you arrive, one of our nursing team will explain the procedure to you. We will attach a blood-pressure cuff (a bit like a water wing) to your upper arm. The cuff is connected to a small portable recorder which is similar in size to a personal stereo and can be worn on a belt around your waist.
Your first appointment will take about 10 minutes to attach the cuff. The cuff inflates automatically every 30 minutes during the day and every 60 minutes at night, to record your blood pressure.
· You should not remove the cuff at any time.
· You cannot get any of the equipment wet.
· Relax when the recorder start to inflate
· Make sure your arm is by your side (hanging down) when the machine is taking its measurements
2nd Appointment
24 hours after the first appointment you will come back to us for another appointment. We will take the monitor and upload the results onto the computer – you are now free to go. Once we have the results these will be given to your GP and a routine appointment should be made with your own GP to discuss the results.