Long-term blood pressure monitoring

During a long-term blood pressure monitoring test, the patient wears a portable blood pressure device continuously for about 16 to 24 hours. The device automatically measures blood pressure at intervals of 15 (or 30) minutes. The measurement interval is often set longer at night.

Doctors usually call this ABPM, which stands for "ambulatory blood pressure monitoring".

Langzeitblutdruckmessung, ABPM und 24-Stunden-Blutdruckmessung

Long-term blood pressure monitoring is an important diagnostic tool for detecting and monitoring high blood pressure because it records how your blood pressure behaves while you wear the device. This is especially important for observing the normal nighttime drop in blood pressure. In healthy people, blood pressure falls at night. If that drop is missing, it is more dangerous than a single high blood pressure reading.

Long-term blood pressure monitoring is an easy test to perform. However, it can disturb sleep for some people. In those cases, sleep should possibly be monitored as well so that a missing nighttime drop can be distinguished from simply not sleeping well.

Analyses of BloodPressureDB data collected from home measurements can help support the assessment.

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This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 11/2025).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.

We hope you found the article helpful. Accurate measurements are essential for good blood pressure control. Our app BloodPressureDB can help with that. Clear instructions walk you through taking measurements according to current guidelines. The app can also remind you if you wish. These features are fully available in the free version as well. Get the free app now.

Long-term blood pressure monitoring

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