Blood Pressure Monitoring

Equipment:

• Oxford Instruments Medilog BX Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor

It has been found that the blood pressure tends to drop at night, which can reduce the supply of blood to the eyes. In order to measure this, we can use a blood pressure monitor which is carried around for 24 hours, automatically recording the blood pressure at hourly intervals. The blood pressure monitor consists of a small control box, similar in size to a personal stereo, which is worn on a shoulder strap or belt. A cuff is attached around the upper arm and is connected to the control box by a long tube. The unit inflates the cuff at intervals throughout the day and night, recording the measurements as it goes. When the monitor is returned to the clinic, we can download the results from the unit. This allows us to determine if there are particular times of the day or night when the blood pressure is higher or lower then expected