24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Brown Health Medical Group Kidney Disease and Hypertension offers 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) to diagnose and manage high blood pressure, and related kidney and cardiovascular conditions. The test measures a patient’s blood pressure at regular intervals over a full day and night, giving the care team a detailed and accurate picture of how their blood pressure behaves in real life.

Why 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Matters

Taking multiple blood pressure measurements over a 24-hour period of time, your medical team receives more information than a single reading in the office would provide them. With ABPM testing, the Brown Health Medical Group Kidney Disease and Hypertension team can:

• Confirm a suspected diagnosis of high blood pressure
• Identify “white coat” hypertension, when blood pressure rises in a medical setting
• Detect masked hypertension, when readings appear normal in the office but increase at home
• Assess a patient’s baseline blood pressure
• Evaluate patterns during daily activities and sleep
• Improve treatment decisions based on comprehensive data

By collecting many readings over time, this test reduces uncertainty and supports more precise, personalized care.

How to Prepare for 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

Before the appointment, you should:

• Shower or bathe 
• Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing
• Choose short sleeves or a button-down shirt to make it easier to place the cuff on the upper arm

Please bring your insurance, identification, and a list of the medications you take.

What to Expect at the 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Appointment

During the visit, a member of our medical team will place a blood pressure cuff on your upper arm and connect it to a small monitoring device. We will do a manual blood pressure check and test the equipment to ensure it works properly before the patient leaves the office.

How is 24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Done?

During the 24-hour testing period, you will wear the cuff continuously. The device will:

• Inflate automatically every 15 to 20 minutes during the day
• Inflate every 30 minutes overnight

Each measurement may feel tight or slightly uncomfortable, but it will last only a short time. These readings, especially during sleep, offer valuable insights into your cardiovascular risks.

Tips for Accurate Results When Monitoring Blood Pressure for 24-Hour Period

To ensure reliable measurements, you should:

• Keep your arm still and relaxed when the cuff inflates
• Stop talking and avoid movement during readings
• Continue your normal daily routine, but avoid strenuous exercise

When the blood pressure measurement begins, you should position your arm properly:

• If sitting, rest it on a table or desk
• If standing, let it hang relaxed at your side
• At night, place the monitor beside you so the tubing does not bend

Comfort and Safety

You may experience arm soreness, sleep disruption, or skin irritation. Sleep disruption is understandable and expected.  You are encouraged to do your best to relax. Playing music, taking a few deep breaths, and practicing relaxation exercises can help. If the cuff becomes too tight or painful, press the ON/OFF button to stop the test. The cuff will deflate immediately. Please contact our office to let us know if you stop the monitoring early.

What Happens After 24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring

After 24 hours, you will return your device. Your clinician will review the data and discuss what it means for your health, including whether you need further testing, lifestyle changes, or medication adjustments.  Results often include your 24-hour average blood pressure, daytime average, nighttime average, and nocturnal (nighttime) dipping patterns as your nighttime readings should be lower.

What Type of Results Do I Get and What Do They Mean?

Normal readings for 24-hour ABPM are as follows:

• Average blood pressure over 24 hours should be lower than 125/75 mmHg
• Daytime blood pressure should be lower than 130/80 mmHg
• Nighttime blood pressure should be lower than 110/65 mmHg
• Blood pressure typically drops by 10% to 20% while sleeping

Learn more about Brown Health Medical Group Kidney Disease and Hypertension