Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)
Accurate 24-hour blood pressure monitoring in Sydney — helping diagnose hypertension, white coat syndrome and masked high blood pressure.
What is It?
Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) is a simple, non-invasive test that measures your blood pressure continuously over a 24-hour period while you go about your normal daily activities and sleep. Unlike a single reading taken in a clinic, ABPM provides a far more accurate and comprehensive picture of your true blood pressure patterns.
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists use ABPM as a cornerstone of precision blood pressure assessment, ensuring every treatment decision is based on the most reliable data available.
Why is It Performed?
At One Heart Centre, our cardiologists may recommend ABPM to:
- Confirm or rule out high blood pressure (hypertension)
- Assess how well your current blood pressure medications are working
- Detect “white coat” hypertension — elevated readings that occur only in medical settings
- Identify masked hypertension — normal clinic readings but elevated blood pressure at home
- Evaluate overnight blood pressure patterns, which are critical indicators of long-term cardiovascular health
This detailed monitoring allows your cardiologist to make more precise, confident treatment decisions tailored specifically to your needs.
What Does the Test Involve?
A small blood pressure monitor is gently fitted to your arm and attached to a lightweight recording device worn discreetly on a belt or shoulder strap. The cuff automatically inflates at regular intervals — typically every 20–30 minutes during the day and every 30–60 minutes while you sleep.
You simply continue with your usual daily activities while the monitor works quietly in the background. The test is painless, though you may feel a brief tightening of the cuff during each reading. You return the device the following day, and the recorded data is carefully analysed by your cardiologist at One Heart Centre.
What are the Benefits?
✓ Highly accurate assessment of your true blood pressure over a full 24-hour cycle
✓ Superior diagnosis leading to better-informed treatment decisions
✓ Reduced need for unnecessary medications
✓ Improved long-term cardiovascular risk management and prevention