Ambulatory blood pressure

Ambulatory Blood Pressure

A typical ambulatory blood pressure monitor

The Ambulatory Blood Pressure (ABP) monitoring involves measuring blood pressure at regular intervals (usually every 20-30 minutes) over a 24 hour period while patients go about their normal activities, including sleep. The portable monitor is worn on a belt connected to a standard cuff on the upper arm and uses the oscillometric technique to detect systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure as well as heart rate.

Overview

When blood pressure is measured in a doctor's office, it may be high because of anxiety and not necessarily because of a disease. On the other hand, if blood pressure is measured at home, there may be lack of adherence to protocol (such as wrong positioning of the cuff). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can provide a series of readings in the patient's normal environment and avoid these issues.

Indications

File:Blood Pressure Indications.jpg

Indications for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is indicated in the following situations:

• Suspected White coat hypertension
• Suspected Masked hypertension
• Hypotensive symptoms with antihypertensive medications
• Episodic hypertension
• Autonomic dysfunction

Procedure

The patient is fitted with a cuff that can be inflated to constrict the brachial artery. A pressure sensor in the cuff provides a reading of the pressure. A small, portable, battery-powered device that can be worn on a belt is connected to the cuff. The device automatically inflates the cuff at pre-set intervals to take readings of the blood pressure throughout the day and night.

Interpretation

The ambulatory blood pressure monitor provides a printout of the blood pressure and heart rate readings. The printout is interpreted by a healthcare provider to determine if a patient's blood pressure stays high during the day.

Advantages

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring allows the healthcare provider to assess the blood pressure during routine daily living, as opposed to the artificial environment of the clinic. This can lead to a more accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

See Also

• Blood Pressure
• Hypertension
• Hypotension