Description
A blood pressure Holter monitor provides a 24-hour continuous measurement of blood pressure. This allows for an accurate determination of whether the patient has high blood pressure during the day and at night, providing useful information compared to a single measurement in the doctor’s office, which is often complicated by the patient’s anxiety (white coat syndrome, i.e., falsely elevated blood pressure in the doctor’s office while it usually remains within normal ranges). It is also a very useful test for monitoring the effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment throughout the day. The test is of great importance, since hypertension does not cause symptoms but is a significant risk factor for the development of heart disease.
To perform the test
The data is recorded on a small device, about the size of a cell phone, which is attached to a belt or carrying case and connected to a cuff placed on the patient’s arm. The device is programmed to measure blood pressure at regular intervals, usually every 15, 30, or 60 minutes, while the patient continues their daily activities as usual.