A MAPA is a 24 hour blood pressure monitor used to detect, measure and manage high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension is when your BP reading is over 140/90.
When wearing the Mapa, readings are taken every 20 to 30 minutes during the day and every hour at night with your heart rate being monitored at the same time. Our blood pressure can easily vary 10% to 20% during sleep.
Abnormal changes in BP that might go unnoticed, are detected with the use of a Mapa. Many patients suffer with white coat hypertension. This is when there is up to a 30% rise in BP when put in a medical environment, when the BP is actually normal.
Signs of Sleep Apnea which is a serious condition causing your airway to repeatedly close during sleep, depriving your brain of oxygen until you gasp awake can also show up in a Mapa test. Measuring signals from the tip of your index finger with a small light sensor which connects wirelessly to your smartphone can also be used to give a positive diagnosis. If diagnosed your Dentist can craft a manibular splint to reposition your jaw and clearly open your airways.
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