What Is an Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor?
It’s attached to a small recording equipment that you wear on your belt.
You wear the ABPM machine for 24 hours.
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The ABPM information tracks your blood pressure in real time.
What Is the Difference Between HBPM and ABPM?
How Do You Measure Ambulatory Blood Pressure?
When Is ABPM Used?
There are several situations when ABPMs can be a valuable rig for discovering high blood pressure.
It’s also useful to investigate whether existinganti-hypertensive medicationsare working, or why they’re not effective.
Are ABPMs Accurate?
Ambulatory blood pressure monitors have been tested for accuracy for almost two decades.
ABPM devices have been shown to be accurate enough for routine clinical use in a variety of patients.
Accuracy in making a diagnosis of hypertension depends upon obtaining repeated blood-pressure measurements.
Using ABPM devices makes this more practical.
The devices cost between $2,000 and $2,500, even for a primary care practice to acquire.
Usually, you will use one under the healthcare provider’s direction.
Keep in mind that insurance companies may approve its use only for certain conditions.
The reimbursement rates also will vary, so check with your insurance provider for details.
Although less common, ABPM rental may be available through a pharmacy or clinic near you.
How Do You Prepare to Use an ABPM?
You wear the ABPM machine in daily life, so there’s not too much preparation.
Some general tips include:
There are a few activities you better avoid.
It also averages active and sleeping-hour pressures separately.
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