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A Blood Pressure Monitor is a small portable system for measuring blood pressure during your normal daily routine. A cuff is worn on the upper arm and is connected via a thin tube to a monitor (comparative to the size of a mobile phone) which is worn on your belt or placed in your pocket. The monitor measures your blood pressure at regular intervals and stores the measurements internally. PREPARATION It is recommended that you shower prior to your appointment as you are unable to shower during the 24 hour testing period. Food, water and medication can be taken as per your usual routine. For your comfort we suggest wearing loose fitting clothing and for ladies a two piece outfit in preference to a dress is recommended. TEST LENGTH Allow approximately 30 minutes for the attachment of the monitor and 15 minutes for the detachment of the monitor on the following day. MEDICARE REBATE AVAILABLE No, there is no Medicare rebate for a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. PROCEDURE A cardiac technician will take a number of manual blood pressure readings on both your arms prior to attaching the 24 hour monitor. The cuff will then be positioned on your upper arm with the monitor being worn on your belt or placed in your pocket as described above. The technician will start the monitor and ensure it is functioning correctly. The cuff will inflate every 30 minutes during the day and every 45 minutes after 10:00 pm. To ensure the monitor takes quick and accurate measurements we advise you to keep your arm straight and relaxed each time the cuff inflates. The cuff will feel tight during inflation but be assured this is normal. If you feel any pain or discomfort after you leave our clinic please do not hesitate to call us. A diary to record your activities or any symptoms that you may experience (dizziness, palpitations etc) will be provided to you. You will be required to return the next day to have the monitor removed. RESULTS Our Cardiologists will review the collected data and a report will be generated. Your results are sent directly to your referring doctor, usually within 3 working days. The data obtained is digitally stored to enable precise comparisons should you require future tests. |
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