Raised blood pressure (hypertension) is a common condition. If left untreated, hypertension puts the individual at increased risk of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes.
Hypertension can be very effectively treated with changes in lifestyle and, if required, medication.
Blood pressure varies through the day, so a single blood pressure (BP) reading is usually not sufficient to diagnose hypertension. A 24-hour BP monitor provides a more complete assessment of your blood pressure.
You do not need to do any preparation prior to having the test. For the test, a cuff will be fitted around your upper arm, with the cuff attached to small device. The cuff will typically inflate once every 30 minutes during the day, and once an hour overnight, recording your blood pressure on each occasion.
Once the 24 hours of monitoring has been completed, the blood pressure cuff and device are returned for analysis. A full report will be provided.