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Blood pressure · Saint‑Hyacinthe24-hour test
Understanding your blood pressure over a full day.
Blood pressure naturally varies over the course of the day depending on physical activity, stress, sleep, medications and several other factors. A single measurement taken at the clinic therefore represents only one precise moment.
ABPM, or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, automatically records blood pressure at regular intervals for about 24 hours, while you go about your usual activities and while you sleep.
It thus provides a much more complete picture of how your blood pressure changes over a day and a night.
The test
ABPM is a non-invasive test performed using a portable device connected to a cuff placed around the arm.
The device is worn during usual daily activities as well as during sleep.
According to Hypertension Canada recommendations, ABPM is generally programmed to take measurements every 20 to 30 minutes, day and night.1
During the recording period, the cuff inflates automatically at regular intervals to measure:
An overview
A single blood pressure measurement can be influenced by several temporary factors.
This information can help the health professional better understand the patient’s blood pressure profile.
ABPM provides many measurements spread over an extended period and makes it possible to calculate, among other things:
Indications
ABPM may be used, for example, when a professional wants more information about blood pressure. It may be especially relevant to:
When high values are observed at the clinic, measurements taken outside the office can be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Hypertension Canada recommends out-of-office blood pressure measurements to confirm hypertension and to look for certain specific situations.1
Some people have higher blood pressure when it is measured in a medical setting. This is commonly called the white coat effect or white coat hypertension.1
In this situation, measurements taken during usual activities may differ from those obtained at the clinic.
The opposite situation can also occur. A person may have relatively normal blood pressure when it is measured at the clinic, but show higher values during certain periods of daily life.1
ABPM can help reveal this type of profile.
In some people already being treated for hypertension, ABPM can show how blood pressure changes during the day and night. It may be used, for example, when there are:
Blood pressure also changes during sleep. In many people, it decreases during the night. ABPM therefore makes it possible to compare values obtained during waking hours with those obtained during sleep.
The report may show, among other things, the percentage of night-time decrease in blood pressure, sometimes called “dipping.”2
This information is one of the elements that may be considered when interpreting ABPM results.
Your appointment
A cuff suited to your arm is fitted and connected to a small portable device. The device is usually worn on a belt or in a pouch.
One or more measurements may be taken to check that the device is working and the cuff is properly positioned.
You then leave the clinic with the device. It automatically takes measurements during your usual activities and while you sleep.
After the set period, you bring the device back to the clinic. The recorded data can then be retrieved to produce the ABPM report.
During the recording
When the cuff starts to inflate, it is best, when the situation allows:
Movement can sometimes prevent the device from obtaining a valid measurement. In some situations, the device may automatically attempt a new measurement.
The goal is generally to obtain a representative picture of your usual day. You should therefore continue your normal activities as much as possible, unless the professional tells you otherwise.
However, certain activities may be incompatible with the device, especially those that could expose it to water or damage it.
Specific instructions are explained to you at installation.
Yes. Measurements taken during sleep are an important part of ABPM. The cuff will therefore continue to inflate automatically during the night.
Some measurements may temporarily disturb your sleep. This information may also be useful when interpreting the test.
The electronic device and the cuff must generally stay dry.
You must therefore follow the instructions provided at installation regarding showering, bathing or any activity that exposes the device to water.
Unless you have received different instructions from your health professional, your medications should generally be taken according to your usual routine.
It may be helpful to note the time you take certain medications, especially those used to treat blood pressure.
Diary
An activity diary can be useful for interpreting the recorded measurements.
Hypertension Canada states that a diary kept by the patient is useful for identifying:2
You may therefore be asked to note certain information during the test.
The report may show, among other things:2
These data must be interpreted in the patient’s clinical context.
Comparison
Both methods provide measurements outside the doctor’s office, but they do not work the same way.
The patient takes their own measurements using a blood pressure monitor according to a set protocol.
The device automatically takes measurements at regular intervals for about 24 hours, including during sleep.
ABPM therefore makes it possible, among other things, to obtain night-time data that is not usually available with traditional self-measurement.
Interpretation
ABPM provides important information about blood pressure, but it must be interpreted in the overall clinical context.
The health professional then determines what the results mean and the appropriate course of action.
The results may be considered in relation to, among other things:
Quick reference
To help ensure a good-quality recording:
Frequently asked questions
ABPM is non-invasive. However, the repeated inflation of the cuff may cause a feeling of pressure or temporary discomfort, especially during certain measurements.
The test is generally carried out over a period of at least 24 hours.
Yes. Night-time measurements are an important part of the test.
In many situations, yes. The goal is precisely to observe blood pressure during a relatively typical day. However, certain work activities may be incompatible with wearing the device.
Wearing an ABPM device does not necessarily prevent you from driving, but you must follow the recommendations given at installation and not handle the device while driving.
A measurement may sometimes fail because of movement or a poor signal. The devices can take many measurements during the recording period, which provides a set of data for analysis.
Repeated measurements make it possible to calculate averages that are much more representative than a single one-time reading.
Fees
Clinique IPS du Palais offers 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in Saint-Hyacinthe. The device automatically records your blood pressure during your daily activities and while you sleep.
95 $
A non-invasive test that automatically measures your blood pressure at regular intervals, day and night, during your usual activities.
300 $
The deposit is refunded when the device is returned in good condition and within the set time frame.
Book an appointment for ABPM → · See all our services and fees →
Our team can install the device, explain the instructions to follow during the 24 hours and retrieve the data when the device is returned.
Clinique IPS du Palais — Saint-Hyacinthe
The information on this page is provided for informational purposes and does not replace an assessment by a health professional. ABPM results are interpreted in the overall clinical context.
