24 hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor (ABPM) requires you to wear a small device that monitors your blood pressure over the course of 24-hours. The device measures and records your blood pressure at regular intervals (typically every 15-30 minutes, with longer intervals overnight).

At your appointment our staff will set it up and provide you with further instructions. The device comes with a small pouch to hold the device that you can wear across your body and while sleeping. You can go about your day as usual while wearing it. You can opt to keep a diary of what you were doing at the time of the reading but this is not mandatory.

Anyone with persistently raised blood pressure readings, or readings that are dramatically different at each measurement, is a good candidate for ABPM. ABPM may also be suitable for individuals who have a family history of hypertension, have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, or have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

A record of your blood pressure over a certain period of time can provide a more reliable measurement than one-off readings.

This is particularly true for patients whose blood pressure rises due to anxiety when visiting their healthcare provider.

Studies have shown that increased blood pressure readings on ABPM are more strongly correlated to organ damage than one-off measurements.

In addition, ABPM can help monitor patient response to hypertension treatment.

This test is meant to measure your blood pressure in a natural setting, as you perform normal activities.

However, there are some steps you can take to ensure the test is effective.

Wear a short sleeved shirt or blouse to the test.

When the cuff is inflating and taking a reading, try to limit your movement and sit down, if possible.

The cuff should be at the same level as your heart and try to keep your arm steady.

Once you have returned the machine, your physician will review and interpret your results. The office will call you to schedule an appointment to review the results within 14 days. Please do not contact the office unless it has been greater than 14 days and you have not heard anything.

Unfortunately at this time, despite evidence to support that ABPM is a more accurate measure of blood pressure than single one off readings it is not covered by the provincial health plan (OHIP) and therefore is an uninsured service.

The current charge is $80 per test.

ABPM may be covered by your extended health plan, so check with your provider if you are eligible for the reimbursement. The current charge is $80.