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Holter BP or 24-hour blood pressure monitoring is a device used for continuous measurement of blood pressure over a 24-hour period. More specifically, it is a diagnostic method performed with a device aimed at detecting blood pressure problems, including high blood pressure.

The device measures blood pressure for 24 hours – throughout the entire day and night, allowing for diagnostics to be carried out outside the doctor's office, during regular daily activities.

Why might you need a Holter BP when you likely already have a blood pressure monitor that you use regularly?

Learn all about Holter BP and why this diagnostic method might be necessary in the following text.

Holter BP and High Blood Pressure

Arterial hypertension or high blood pressure most commonly affects older adults but is increasingly seen among younger populations in their twenties and thirties.

It is one of the most common non-infectious diseases. High blood pressure is often referred to by doctors as a "silent killer" because symptoms frequently go unnoticed, meaning a person can be unaware of their condition for years, even decades.

While a standard blood pressure monitor can detect issues at a specific moment, Holter BP provides the ability to determine if you suffer from high blood pressure over a much larger time frame, thereby offering greater certainty.

Timely diagnosis and prevention of this condition can avert complications and ensure adequate therapy for the patient, and Holter BP is a reliable method to establish this.

What Does Holter BP Reveal?

Holter BP is a dependable way for doctors to determine several facts:

• Whether the person has high blood pressure.
• How often blood pressure is elevated over a 24-hour period and what therapy should be prescribed based on the results.
• Whether the patient needs therapy to regulate blood pressure.
• Whether existing therapy needs adjustment.
• Whether high blood pressure is triggered by factors such as stress, specific types of physical activity, or other life situations.
• What the blood pressure is during rest or sleep.
• Whether high blood pressure occurs only in medical settings, indicating "white coat syndrome."

Since Holter BP provides numerous valuable insights into high blood pressure, doctors will recommend this diagnostic method as an excellent way to identify issues in patients suspected of having high blood pressure.

Who is Holter BP Most Often Recommended For?

Holter BP can be recommended to anyone as a preventive method to detect high blood pressure problems even in those who did not suspect the condition. It is especially recommended in the following cases:

• For individuals where a blood pressure monitor has recorded elevated pressure at some point.
• For those with risk factors for high blood pressure (exposure to stress, heart disease, smoking, diabetes, low physical activity, high cholesterol, etc.).
• For those already on blood pressure medication to check the status and effectiveness of the therapy.
• For pregnant women who suspect they have a blood pressure issue.

When a doctor reviews the results of Holter BP diagnostics, they will be able to determine a clear "picture of the blood pressure" for the patient and prescribe appropriate treatment if necessary. Blood pressure medications can prevent severe consequences of this condition, such as thrombosis, stroke, heart attack, kidney or heart failure.

How to Prepare for Holter BP and What to Do While Wearing the Device

Holter BP is a small device that includes a cuff placed around the upper arm, similar to a traditional blood pressure monitor, and a small recorder worn around the waist or neck. The Holter BP measures every 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night, automatically turning off after 24 hours.

People often wonder how to prepare for wearing the device, but unless your doctor has given special instructions, no preparation is necessary as the device does not require special preparation.

Regarding behavior while wearing Holter BP, the device's purpose is to record blood pressure during normal daily activities, so it is advised to continue with your usual activities as on any other day. If you are already on medication, continue taking it unless your doctor advises otherwise.

What to Do When You Feel the Holter Measuring Blood Pressure?

When you feel the Holter measuring blood pressure during the day, simply extend your arm by your side with your palm facing upwards. It is not necessary to sit down, but it is important to remain still. If you were active, wait until the device completes its measurement. You will feel the end of the measurement when the cuff starts to deflate.

During nighttime measurements, the body is relaxed, and the Holter will measure blood pressure without your help, but it is advisable not to sleep with your arm resting on the area where the Holter is placed.

Eliksir Medical Home Care and Holter BP Diagnostics

If you or a loved one needs blood pressure diagnostics using the Holter BP method, Eliksir Medical home care service also offers the option of sending a specialist to your home to attach the Holter BP device.

Contact us for more information, and remember, "Health is the greatest wealth."