24-Hour Blood Pressure Monitoring Presents True Hypertension Picture

Doctors can use the many readings collected in one day to plan treatment.

Published: July 30, 2010

You take your blood pressure at home and it seems well within the target range established by you and your doctor. But then you go to his office and the numbers climb considerably. Or perhaps, you find that your blood pressure at home varies widely throughout the day, despite your best efforts to follow your physicians diet, exercise and medication recommendations. As a result, your cardiologist may recommend you wear a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, which may take 70 to 80 readings during a 24-hour period.