Blood pressure monitor

To monitor blood pressure in your home over an extended period of time, you can be fitted with a 24-hour blood pressure monitor. In view of the risks of high blood pressure, it is important to check whether your blood pressure is (persistently) high under daily conditions. Based on these measurements, the physician can decide if treatment is necessary.

Preparation

It is best to wear clothing with wide sleeves.

Testing

A cuff that is connected to an automatic blood pressure monitor is fitted around the arm. You carry the monitor on a belt on your hip. Every 20 minutes, the device will measure your blood pressure and heart rate and will save these data. When the blood pressure is measured, the cuff on the upper arm will automatically inflate and deflate. You need to keep your arm still during the measurement. If the measurement was not successful, you will notice that it is repeated. If this happens several times in succession, please check if the cuff is still fitted correctly.

After 24 hours, you will return the blood pressure monitor to the hospital. No specific aftercare is required.

24-hour blood pressure monitoring is a safe procedure. Sometimes, you may experience a tingling sensation in the arm or fingers while a measurement is being taken or your arm may feel sore when the cuff is being inflated. This will disappear by itself. You might sleep slightly less well due to the sound of the device at night.

In the hospital, a computer will download the blood pressure monitor data. The results will be discussed with the physician afterwards.

Latest publication date: 13/12/2023
Supervising author: Dr Provenier Frank