Generality
The blood pressure Holter is a diagnostic procedure lasting a total of 24 hours, which, through the use of a portable sphygmomanometer, allows you to measure the blood pressure of an individual every 30 minutes.
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The portable sphygmomanometer is very similar to a classic sphygmomanometer for standard blood pressure measurement. To differentiate it from the latter are the ability to function autonomously, after ignition, and to save the data of each blood pressure measurement on an internal memory.
Doctors subject those individuals with sudden and marked fluctuations in blood pressure and related symptoms to a blood pressure monitor.
The BP Holter is an exam with simple preparation and minimal risks. To avoid distorting the results of the exam, during the 24 hours in which it takes place, the patient must be careful not to bump or move the measuring instrument
What is the blood pressure Holter?
The blood pressure Holter is a diagnostic test that allows to measure the blood pressure of an individual at regular intervals, over a period of time lasting 24 hours.
In other words, the "blood pressure Holter" consists of a periodic monitoring of blood pressure, throughout a whole day.
The blood pressure holter uses an instrument called a portable sphygmomanometer.
THE INSTRUMENT
The portable sphygmomanometer is, in fact, a normal small-sized sphygmomanometer, capable of operating autonomously, after the initial start-up.
It consists of a comfortable inflatable band, connected via a rubber cable to a small blood pressure monitor, very similar to a Walkman musical.
In addition to measuring blood pressure levels, the blood pressure monitor has an internal memory in which it records the result of each individual measurement.
Readers interested in knowing in detail how blood pressure is measured can consult the article here.
Uses
Blood pressure is a vital parameter, which can also vary markedly during a "whole day: for example, it undergoes changes during sleep, during a" physical activity, following an anxiety attack, with the adoption of a particular diet, after taking certain drugs for blood pressure, due to a cardiovascular problem, etc.
Who made the portable sphygmomanometer, for the "execution of the" blood pressure Holter, wanted to make available to doctors an instrument capable of capturing and giving meaning to the daily fluctuations in blood pressure, fluctuations that a normal sphygmomanometer is not able to highlight. .
It is clear that a healthy person, whose only blood pressure fluctuations are physiological ones, does not need to undergo a blood pressure Holter. On the contrary, anyone who shows symptoms or clinical signs in some way linked to pathological changes in blood pressure absolutely needs it.
By pathological changes in blood pressure, we mean sudden and marked changes in blood pressure, either up or down.
AIMS IN BRIEF
Individuals with:
- Symptoms of hypotension, during the day.
- Symptoms of hypertension.
- Symptoms preceding the episodes of syncope and presyncope.
- Heart problems, such as arrhythmias.
- Severe stress or anxiety problems.
Furthermore, through a blood pressure Holter, doctors are able to evaluate the effects of a drug-based therapy for the normalization of blood pressure.
Preparation
Typically, in view of a BP Holter, doctors provide patients with two simple preparatory directions, which are:
- Wear clothes (in this case sweaters and sweaters) that are comfortable and easy to take off and put on.
This reduces the risk of bumping or moving the instrument that measures blood pressure, causing it to malfunction. - Keep a sort of clinical diary, in which to report if and at what times of the day suspicious disorders have appeared and that could be linked to some health problem. The diary is very useful to the doctor during the phase of interpretation of the blood pressure recordings, once the 24 hours of the blood pressure Holter have elapsed.
Procedure
Generally the task of a nurse, the installation of the portable sphygmomanometer is a simple, quick and painless procedure, which involves the application of the inflatable band to the patient's arm and the placement of the measuring instrument in a special pocket that can be hooked around the waist, to This first phase of the procedure usually takes about ten minutes, no more.
Once installation is complete, the phase dedicated to calibrating the instrument begins.
The calibration phase involves the comparison between a measurement carried out by means of a standard sphygmomanometer (N.B: it is the control or reference measurement) and a measurement carried out by means of the blood pressure Holter meter.
If the results of the two measurements coincide, it means that the portable blood pressure monitor is well calibrated and works just as well as a reliable standard blood pressure monitor.
Typically, doctors spend between 20 and 30 minutes between the two measurements.
At the end of the calibration phase, the patient can return home and devote himself to normal activities of daily life, avoiding for obvious reasons sports or other movements that could move the elastic band or damage the blood pressure monitor.
WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE 24 HOURS OF THE EXAM?
After it is switched on and thanks to an internal timer, the measuring instrument for the blood pressure Holter performs a blood pressure measurement approximately every 30 minutes.
When taking the measurement, the inflatable band, placed on the patient's arm, inflates, just like when using a standard sphygmomanometer.
Each measurement usually ends within a few seconds; in the end, the band deflates and everything returns to normal.
END OF PROCEDURE
At the end of the 24 hours foreseen by the blood pressure monitor, the patient must go to the doctor or the hospital center, which has installed the instrumentation, to uninstall the portable sphygmomanometer and deliver the clinical diary to the appropriate person.
Generally, before uninstalling the sphygmomanometer, the treating physician takes a standard blood pressure measurement, and then compares it with the last turn from the blood pressure monitor. This comparison serves to understand if the measuring instrument was still well calibrated even at the end of the examination.
Uninstalling the blood pressure monitor usually takes a few minutes.
WARNINGS D "USE
During the 24 hours of the exam, in addition to avoiding strenuous physical activity and dangerous movements, the patient should:
- Remain still as much as possible while the handheld blood pressure monitor measures blood pressure. This warning is easy to follow, as the inflation of the strap is clearly recognizable.
Moving during the measurement alters the blood pressure reading and the data saved in the memory is not reliable. - Leave the blood pressure monitor in its pocket.
- Don't take showers or baths. It is a good idea to wash before the exam, so that there is no need for it in the following hours.
Risks
The BP Holter is a risk-free diagnostic test.
Results
The results of the blood pressure Holter are available within a few days.
These are the result of the doctor's observation of the measurements made by the measuring instrument.
Particularly important, on the final judgment, is also the consultation of the clinical diary, made by the patient during the blood pressure Holter.
