Ambulatory Blood Pressure

Ambulatory blood pressure, which is often referred to as ABPM, is the measurement of blood pressure during regular times during the day and the night. Many doctors like ambulatory blood pressure readings because they can get a clear indication of what is going on with the patient without having to deal with the white coat hypertension effect. The white coat hypertension effect is the tendency for people to have a higher or lower blood pressure when in the presence of their doctor.

The Purpose of Ambulatory Blood Pressure

The purpose of ambulatory blood pressure measurements is to take measurements throughout the day and night so that the doctor can determine when the blood pressure is going high and perhaps try to determine why. This allows for a doctor to help create an effective treatment plan based on your particular blood pressure readings.

Ambulatory blood pressure measurements often help to diagnose nocturnal hypertension. With these measurements a doctor can determine if the patient is a “dipper” or a “non-dipper”, which is in reference to whether or not the blood pressure readings drop at night when compared to the day time readings. Most people who have healthy blood pressure readings experience a normal drop in their readings at night. When you don’t have this dip at night it can affect the body in negative ways over time. Nocturnal hypertension is also associated with a higher incidence of end organ damage and is usually a much better indicator that medication or lifestyle changes are needed than daytime blood pressure readings.

Ambulatory blood pressure readings are a great tool for doctors as well as patients. Doctors are more able to target organ damage with these readings. While it is known that high blood pressure causes organ damage, clinical blood pressure readings are much more variable and not a good indicator of high blood pressure related organ damage. Organ damage associated with high blood pressure is often not experienced until it is late stages, which is why ambulatory blood pressure is a great tool.

If you believe that you could benefit from ambulatory blood pressure readings, you may want to discuss this with your doctor. Your doctor can share the benefits and the drawbacks of such a blood pressure reading method. The process is quite simple and will give both you and your doctor the information that you need about your body and how you can help to control your blood pressure in a more effective manner.