24 Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring

Quick facts

  • For this test you wear a portable monitor for 24 hours to measure your blood pressure at intervals throughout the day. 

  • This test can help diagnose or monitor hypertension (high blood pressure). 

  • You wear the monitor on your arm; and the cuff inflates and deflates at regular intervals.   

  • There are certain things you need to do while wearing the monitor, for example you won’t be able to shower, bathe or swim while wearing the monitor.

  • You’ll need two, short (15-30 mins) appointments on consecutive days to have the monitor fitted and removed; and you need to wear the monitor for 24 hours in between appointments.  

Summary

A 24 hour blood pressure monitoring test is when we ask you to wear a portable monitor to measure your blood pressure at periodic intervals throughout a 24 hour period as you go about your normal activities. 

How to prepare

  • You can eat and drink as normal before your appointment and during the 24 hour monitoring period.

  • Please have a bath or shower before your appointment. You can’t have one while wearing the monitor for the 24 hour period. 

  • Wear a two-piece outfit as you’ll need to undress to the waist for us to fit the monitor.

  • For women, taking bras on and off during the monitoring period can dislodge the equipment so we ask you to commit to either wearing the same bra or no bra for the monitoring period. If you opt to wear a bra, please wear your most comfortable one as you won’t be able to take it off during the 24 hours. 

  • The cuff will be fitted to your arm and connected by a rubber hose to a small monitor (about 10cm x 7cm x 2.5cm) which is worn on a belt around the waist. 

What to expect

  • The portable monitor measures your blood pressure every 30 minutes between 8am and 10pm and every 60 minutes between 10pm and 8am. 

  • The blood pressure is measured by a cuff placed around the arm in the same way as performed by your doctor. 

  • The cuff will inflate (so it becomes tight around the arm) and then deflates when the measuring is taking place. 

  • If possible, please sit or stand still when the measurement is taking place. If you can, hang the arm wearing the cuff freely by your side. (There may be times when it is not safe to do this, for example, if you are driving. Don’t worry about missing the occasional measurement for this reason.) 

  • If you tense the muscles, shake your hands or move your arm, this may interfere with the measurement. The monitor will likely repeat the reading in a few minutes. 

  • If you have any difficulties with the equipment, please call the office. 

What not to do

  • Please don’t take the monitor out of its pouch or tamper with the tubing or battery as this may erase data from the device. 

  • Don’t get the monitor wet – you can’t have a bath, shower or swim while wearing the monitor.

Timing

You need to attend the clinic for two consecutive days at the same time for this test – and wear the monitor for 24 hours in between appointments.

Day one – allow 30 minutes for the monitor to be fitted.

Day two – allow 15 minutes for the monitor to be removed.