ambulatory bp monitoring

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring is a way of measuring and managing high blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) means your top number (systolic blood pressure) is at least 130 mmHg (millimeters of mercury), and/or your bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) is at least 80 mmHg.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring records your blood pressure (BP) readings over a 24-hour period, whether you’re awake or asleep. This happens outside your healthcare provider’s office, as you go about your daily life. You wear a cuff on your arm and a small device attached to a strap or belt.

You may be more familiar with having your BP checked in a healthcare provider’s office during an appointment. In this case, your provider uses a device called a sphygmomanometer to measure and record one or two readings during your visit.