Ambulatory blood pressure
Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Ambulatory Blood Pressure (am-bu-la-to-ry blood pres-sure) is a method of monitoring blood pressure levels over a 24-hour period while the patient carries on with their normal daily activities.
Etymology
The term "Ambulatory" is derived from the Latin word "ambulare," which means "to walk." In a medical context, it refers to patients who are able to move around. "Blood Pressure" refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels.
Definition
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is a non-invasive method of obtaining blood pressure readings over a 24-hour period, whilst the patient is in their own environment, representing a true reflection of their blood pressure.
Procedure
During ABPM, a patient wears a blood pressure cuff attached to a small, portable machine that records blood pressure at regular intervals over 24 hours. The patient is encouraged to go about their normal daily activities and even sleep with the device on.
Importance
ABPM is used to identify white coat hypertension, a condition where a patient's blood pressure is high in a clinical setting but normal at home. It can also detect masked hypertension, where a patient's blood pressure is normal in a clinical setting but high at home.
Related Terms
- Hypertension: A condition characterized by consistently high blood pressure.
- Hypotension: A condition characterized by consistently low blood pressure.
- Blood Pressure: The pressure of the blood in the circulatory system.
- Systolic Pressure: The highest pressure when your heart beats and pushes the blood round your body.
- Diastolic Pressure: The lowest pressure when your heart relaxes between beats.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Ambulatory blood pressure
- Wikipedia's article - Ambulatory blood pressure
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