MONITORING OF ARTERIAL PRESSURE

As its name indicates it means taking of blood pressure during the day on an outpatient basis over a predetermined period which is usually 24 hours.

Multiple blood pressure measurements during daily activites gives us more precise information about the actual status of the pressure compared to a single measurement in the doctor's office or patient's home.

Measures during sleeping time are also tken in addition to those taken during normal activities.

Based on these data the doctor will have a better basis to decide on the most appropriate medical treatment.

For whom is this study?

This diagnostic procedure is performed on people with the following characteristics, and always under medical supervision:

• Borderline hypertension now called pre-hypertension

• Determination of the effectiveness of antihypertensive drugs

• Treatment-resistant hypertension

• Episodic hypertension

• Syncope under observation

• Drug research

• To discard the white boot syndrome (high blood pressure when taken by a doctor and not in other circumstances.)

How is it done?

The patient gets a bracelet on one arm, similar to that used by the doctor in his office, as a hose connected to a minicomputer, scheduled to run at regular intervals. The computer is programmed to take the blood pressure every 15 minutes during waking hours and every 30 minutes during sleep time, for an average of 45-60 readings. More than 100 measurements could be recorded in 24 hours, according to each case.

What are the advantages?

• Diagnosis of hypertension in cases of doubt.

• Measurement of blood pressure during waking and sleeping hours.

• Reduces the stress factor of measuring blood pressure by an observer.

• Obtains information from the heart rate curve.

What are the disadvantages?

• Intolerance to multiple blood pressure measurements.

• Physical activity of the patient may interfere with the readings.

• In summary one can say that multiple blood pressure measurements during normal physical activity and during sleep may provide better information on this parameter.