What is ambulatory blood pressure monitoring? A Consultant Cardiologist's guide
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring measures your blood pressure automatically at regular intervals over a full day and night as you go about your normal routine. A single reading in clinic can be misleading, since blood pressure varies through the day and can rise simply because of the clinical setting. Monitoring over 24 hours gives a far more accurate picture, showing your average pressure, how it behaves overnight, and whether treatment is truly controlling it. NICE recommends 24 hour monitoring as a standard part of diagnosing hypertension in adults, because readings taken in a consulting room can be misleadingly high or, less commonly, misleadingly reassuring.
The overnight pattern is particularly informative. Blood pressure normally falls during sleep, and a failure to do so can carry its own significance, which only round-the-clock monitoring can reveal. Ambulatory monitoring also identifies the common situation in which readings are high in clinic but normal elsewhere, sparing some people from unnecessary treatment. At the Harley Street Clinic on Devonshire Street in London, the recording is interpreted by Professor Michael Henein, a Professor of Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist. Accurate interpretation of a full day of readings, including the overnight pattern, is central to diagnosing and managing high blood pressure optimally.
Who needs ambulatory blood pressure monitoring?
Monitoring is often recommended when clinic readings are borderline or variable, when high blood pressure is suspected but not confirmed, when readings are high in clinic but normal at home, and to check whether treatment is working across the whole day. It is also useful when symptoms suggest blood pressure may be dropping too low at times. Patients from London, other UK cities and abroad.
What to expect on the day
1
A blood pressure cuff is fitted to your upper arm and connected to a small, lightweight recorder you wear under your clothing.
2
The device takes readings automatically through the day and night. You continue your usual activities and keep a brief diary.
3
You return the device the next day, and the readings are downloaded and analysed.
4
Professor Henein reviews the results with you and explains what they mean for your diagnosis or treatment.
What is included
The recording provides your daytime and night-time averages and shows how your pressure responds to daily life. Where appropriate it is combined with other tests, such as an ECG or echocardiogram, to assess the effect of blood pressure on the heart. The plan is tailored to your situation, so that any treatment is based on a full day of evidence.
Why choose Professor Henein for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
High blood pressure is a major cause of heart disease, and managing it well depends on accurate measurement and expert interpretation. Professor Henein is a Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Cardiology with over 40 years of experience managing patients with high blood pressure, including fifteen years at Royal Brompton Hospital. His internationally recognised expertise and active academic work, including hundreds of publications in internationally peer-reviewed journals, bring extensive experience to every assessment.
Because he manages the complete patient journey from diagnosis through treatment, the results lead directly into a clear plan under the same expert care.
Common questions about ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
Why monitor blood pressure over 24 hours?
A full day of readings gives a far more accurate picture than a single clinic reading, showing your average pressure and how it behaves overnight.
Can I sleep and work normally while wearing it?
Yes. You continue your usual routine. The cuff inflates automatically at intervals, including during the night.
Does it help if my readings are only high in clinic?
Yes. Monitoring can identify people whose pressure is high in clinic but normal elsewhere, which may avoid unnecessary treatment.
How should I prepare?
No special preparation is needed. Wearing a loose-sleeved top makes fitting the cuff easier.
When will I get my results?
After the device is returned, the readings are downloaded and analysed, and Professor Henein reviews them with you, explaining what they mean for your diagnosis or treatment.
Book a ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
To arrange ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with Professor Michael Henein, contact the clinic at 16 Devonshire Street, London W1G 7AF, in the heart of the Harley Street medical district. Appointments are available to patients from London, other UK cities and abroad. To book, call +44 20 7228 8546 or email hayley.gibbs@hcaconsultant.co.uk, or use the booking button on this page to request an appointment. Professor Henein oversees each stage of your care, from your first appointment through any imaging, diagnosis and treatment, so your heart is looked after by one experienced consultant throughout.