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24-hour blood pressure monitoring
24-hour blood pressure monitoring, or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), is a non-invasive test that automatically measures your blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours, during your normal daily activities and while you sleep.
It gives a much more complete picture than a single reading in the clinic, which can be affected by anxiety or by the time of day.
What it is and how it works
A cuff is placed on your arm and connected to a small portable recorder worn on a belt or shoulder strap. The device inflates automatically, usually every 15–30 minutes during the day and every 30–60 minutes at night, and stores your blood pressure and heart rate readings.
The next day the device is removed and the data are analysed by the cardiologist, who assesses your blood pressure over the 24 hours, the average daytime and night-time values and the normal dip during sleep.
Why it is useful
ABPM makes it possible to:
- confirm or rule out a diagnosis of high blood pressure (hypertension);
- detect white-coat hypertension, i.e. high readings only in the presence of a doctor;
- identify masked hypertension, with normal readings in the clinic but high values in daily life;
- check how well blood pressure treatment works throughout the day;
- assess night-time blood pressure, an important cardiovascular risk marker;
- investigate episodes of dizziness or feeling unwell that may be related to low blood pressure.
Benefits for the patient
- A non-invasive, painless and safe test.
- It measures blood pressure in real daily-life conditions, including during sleep.
- It avoids misdiagnosis caused by anxiety during the visit.
- It gives the cardiologist precise data to start or adjust treatment.
- You can carry on with your normal activities.
Preparation and advice
No special preparation is needed and you should take your usual medicines as normal, unless your doctor advises otherwise. During the monitoring it is advisable to:
- wear a comfortable top or shirt without tight sleeves;
- stop and keep your arm relaxed and still by your side whenever the cuff inflates;
- not remove the device and avoid baths or showers until the test is over;
- keep a diary of your activities, sleep times, medication and any symptoms.
Our team
Dott. Andrea Pappalardo
Dott. Gianluca Spica
Dott. Gabriele D'Ardia
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*Waiting times refer to working days and to the first available specialist.
CalatafimiMed is in Palermo and is open from Monday to Saturday. For any further information you can contact the centre here.