24-hour blood pressure monitoring (also called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring) measures your blood pressure regularly over a full day and night while you go about your normal activities. This provides a much more accurate picture of your blood pressure than a single reading taken during a clinic visit.

This test is commonly used to: • Confirm whether you have high blood pressure (hypertension) • Investigate borderline or fluctuating blood pressure readings • Assess white coat hypertension (high readings in a clinic but normal at home) • Evaluate whether blood pressure medication is working effectively Because blood pressure changes throughout the day, monitoring over 24 hours provides a more reliable assessment of overall blood pressure control.

A small portable monitor is attached to a blood pressure cuff worn on your upper arm. The device automatically measures your blood pressure at regular intervals, usually: • Every 20–30 minutes during the day • Every 30–60 minutes during the night The monitor records all readings so they can be analysed afterwards.

Most people can continue their usual daily activities, including work and light exercise. However, you should avoid activities that might wet or damage the device, such as showering or swimming while wearing the monitor.

The cuff inflates periodically during the night, which some people notice, but most patients are still able to sleep reasonably well. Night-time readings are important because they provide information about how blood pressure behaves during sleep, which can be clinically useful.

No. The cuff inflates in the same way as a normal blood pressure measurement, which may feel slightly tight for a few seconds, but it is not painful.

After 24 hours you will return the monitor. The recorded readings are then analysed to calculate your average blood pressure during the day and night, helping determine whether treatment or further assessment is needed.

Blood pressure naturally varies during the day. A single clinic reading may not reflect your typical blood pressure, whereas 24-hour monitoring provides multiple readings in real-life conditions, making it one of the most reliable ways to diagnose hypertension.

No. You can book 24-hour blood pressure monitoring directly without a GP referral. If you have previous blood pressure readings or medical records, bringing them to your appointment can be helpful.

No. If you experience severe chest pain, collapse, stroke symptoms, or other urgent medical problems, you should seek emergency medical care or call 999 immediately.