Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is a simple test that gives us a detailed picture of how your blood pressure behaves over a 24-hour period. Instead of relying on a single reading at the clinic, ABPM shows us how your blood pressure changes throughout the day and night in your normal environment. This makes it much more accurate and reliable.

• A small cuff is placed around your upper arm and connected to a digital monitor, which can be worn on a belt or shoulder strap.
• The device automatically records your blood pressure at regular intervals – usually every 30 minutes during the day and once an hour overnight.
• Before each reading, the machine will beep. When this happens, simply keep your arm relaxed and still, with the cuff at the level of your heart.
• You may also be asked to keep a brief diary, noting what you were doing before each reading, when you took any blood pressure medication, or if you experienced symptoms such as dizziness.

After 24 hours, you return the monitor to the clinic. The results are then analysed, giving your doctor a clear and accurate picture of your blood pressure pattern. This information is beneficial for:

• Diagnosing or confirming high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Detecting “white coat” hypertension (raised readings only in clinic)
• Checking how well the medication is working
• Understanding blood pressure fluctuations linked to stress, sleep, or daily activity

In summary: ABPM is a straightforward and highly effective way to assess your blood pressure in real life, helping us design a treatment plan that is truly personalised to your needs.