Preparing for the test – Blood pressure Holter monitoring

About the test

Blood pressure Holter monitoring is a diagnostic test that automatically monitors blood pressure over 24 hours using a special device consisting of an upper-arm cuff connected to a recorder. Normal blood pressure readings obtained during this test vary depending on the time of day when they were recorded. Readings above 130/85 mmHg during the day and above 120/80 mmHg at night are considered abnormal. Average blood pressure readings over the full 24-hour period are also assessed.

Test description

A cuff is fitted around the patient’s upper arm and connected to a special battery-powered device the size of a small transistor radio, which is attached to a belt and has an automatic pump. This device measures blood pressure automatically. Blood pressure is recorded by the device throughout the day and night, usually every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. Each time, the cuff inflates for several dozen seconds. After 24 hours, the device and cuff are removed at the facility where they were fitted. The 24-hour blood pressure recording is uploaded to a computer and then interpreted by a cardiologist.

Purpose of the test

This test enables high blood pressure to be diagnosed and its treatment to be monitored. It also helps diagnose other symptoms that may be caused, for example, by drops or fluctuations in blood pressure. As many factors can affect a blood pressure reading (for example, emotions associated with a visit to the doctor), a single reading may not be sufficient to determine whether a blood pressure disorder is present or absent. Therefore, 24-hour blood pressure assessment using a Holter monitor is the most effective and increasingly used method for diagnosing blood pressure disorders.

Indications for the test

• High blood pressure
• Assessing the effectiveness of treatment and ruling out so-called ‘white coat’ hypertension (raised blood pressure that occurs only during visits to the doctor)
• Assessing blood pressure during normal daily activities
• Low blood pressure
• Conditions in which sudden changes in blood pressure may be causing the patient’s symptoms.

Preparation and contraindications for the test

The test is meaningful if the device records blood pressure during a normal day (work, everyday household activities, active leisure and sleep), so the patient should not limit their usual physical activity. There are no contraindications to the test. It can be repeated many times. It is performed in patients of all ages, including pregnant women. WAITING TIME FOR RESULTS:The patient receives the result as a report by a cardiologist on the readings recorded by the Holter monitor approximately three weeks after returning the device.

Where and how can you have the test?

Blood pressure Holter monitoring is available in many cities across Poland.