"White coat hypertension" ?

Ridgeline66

Ten Pointer
Contributor
Anyone have this? anytime i get my BP checked in a Lab setting it is higher than when i home monitor it, in a Dr's office i have never been resting for 5-10 mins and been checked it's rush to do this and that, only time my BP is higher at home is if i have been doing something and check it, it's higher but after i sit for 5-10 min normal again, what say you medical people? Thanks.
 

Eric Revo

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
It is a real thing, I see it everyday in my office.
Keeping a journal with at least a month of "normal"activity days, taken twice a day, am and pm.
This will give you a true look at your real blood pressure. Stress will be a factor that makes your blood pressure higher, so don't take it during those times.
Also, take your bp in each arm every once in awhile . A varying bp that is at least 15 points difference can be an indicator that you need to discuss with your Dr.
 
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mikep7m10

Six Pointer
I bought a BP machine (Omron) for use at home. At home, my BP is 110/75. In the dr office, it's 160/105. So I got the machine to convince him of my 'real' BP. Take it the office with me and show him my recorded results. To prove the accuracy, have him test my BP then immediately test my BP with my machine. It's the same.

Now stop trying to put me on BP medication.
 

ScottyB

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Yep....never hurts to get the ol doc to take your BP the old fashioned way.....mine does both and there is always a difference....and the machine typically reads higher
 

Blackwater

Twelve Pointer
White coat syndrome affects a lot of people but with the right frame of mind and self discipline it can be reduced or eliminated in most cases. My BP is usually normal or slightly lower when tested at a drs. location unless fresh from the parking lot or rushed for some reason. I always try to be there early and do a calming routine on myself, but in the last 10 years I've had a lot of practice so am getting pretty mellow about medical visits and procedures.
 

Mr.Gadget

Old Mossy Horns
Yep that is what the doc said I have.
Its real.
He tricked me and checked one time after I was ready to go and it was down..
 

ABolt

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
I have my BP checked twice a year. For one it's perfect, and for the other it's slightly high. It's no wonder that the one taken at my annual physical is higher than the other - they should factor in a cushion for any BP reading taken right before a prostate exam.
 

JONOV

Old Mossy Horns
Mine was insanely high, I was sent to a specialist. They took it when I came in, the doc came in, he was real calm and relaxing, and after about five minutes took it again. It had dropped quite a bit.

Many (most?) men dislike going to the Dr in the first place and are a little anxious about it.

But you should monitor it at home if its high at the Dr's office...HBP is one of those things that has few symptoms until its about too late...bad for your heart vascular system, kidneys, higher risk of stroke, and its really easily treatable with cheap medication with precious few side effects.

Also, cutting back on the caffeine and salt makes a difference.
 

blazinbowtie99

Six Pointer
White coat syndrome affects a lot of people but with the right frame of mind and self discipline it can be reduced or eliminated in most cases. My BP is usually normal or slightly lower when tested at a drs. location unless fresh from the parking lot or rushed for some reason. I always try to be there early and do a calming routine on myself, but in the last 10 years I've had a lot of practice so am getting pretty mellow about medical visits and procedures.
This! I had the same thing when I first started routine doc visits. Get there early, not feel rushed and it helps 100%.
 

Firefly

Old Mossy Horns
Exercise also helps lower blood pressure...Eating a banana each day also helps so medical folks say. I get along pretty well with the 2 prescriptions I take each day, still at times my BP is border line . Some BP medication I cannot take at all but I believe all of them have side effects, and some of the side effects young men don't want to deal with, especially if they are married..
 

apexhunter

Ten Pointer
I've dealt with BP that has bordered on high ever since school when I was playing ball and in amazing physical condition and ate a very healthy diet (my, how times have changed). I check it often and between a home monitor, machines at pharmacies and at the Dr. office the readings do vary greatly but on average mine has maintained a level that is normal to slightly high...but at the Dr. office it is always several points higher. The trick to accuracy with the machines is to use the proper cuff size as I've had the readings differ by 20 or more points between the regular and large cuffs. Safe to say I don't trust the machines and always ask the nurse use the sphygmomanometer for accurate readings.
 

Longrifle

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Lol, I've got that syndrome myself and told them so. Now they take my bp sometimes just before I leave, it's always lower but still consistently higher than when I use my monitor at home....

I made some radical changes in my diet recently, my sixpack was turning into a keg! That dropped it 15-20 points all by itself in less than two weeks.
 

hunthard2

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
"White coat hypertension" ?

I’ve got it bad. I’m not healthy as should be but when I get checked at a docs office they get worried every time and say i need meds.

I ot checked a month ago for my dot medical card and first check was 153/93.

They made me lay down on my side for 15 minutes and it dropped to 120/75.

Just knowing i have to go pass all these tests to keep my job can be stressful


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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BarSinister

Old Mossy Horns
Try going to the Proctologist's office and have him take your BP! He said your BP is high. I said I know what is about to happen!

I monitor it at home. Lately when I go to the regular DR it has been fine. I try and think happy thoughts and control my breathing prior and it seems to work.
 

Homebrewale

Old Mossy Horns
This will give you a true look at your real blood pressure. Stress will be a factor that makes your blood pressure higher, so don't take it during those times.

If you have a stressful job, wouldn't you want to know your bp during those times, not when you are all nice and calm.
 

Eric Revo

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
If you have a stressful job, wouldn't you want to know your bp during those times, not when you are all nice and calm.

The trouble with treating stress related hypertension is that when you're not "fight or flight" your BP can fall into the low category and could also lower your pulse into a range which isn't therapeutic. Stress kills, but it's also your body's natural response to life threatening situations.
 

Part-time hunter

Ten Pointer
Anyone have this? anytime i get my BP checked in a Lab setting it is higher than when i home monitor it, in a Dr's office i have never been resting for 5-10 mins and been checked it's rush to do this and that, only time my BP is higher at home is if i have been doing something and check it, it's higher but after i sit for 5-10 min normal again, what say you medical people? Thanks.

I'm not really a medical professional although I did work as a psychiatric nurses assistant for a few years long ago. I have probably taken several thousand blood pressures. But as an old man on two BP meds I have to admit I used that white coat effect excuse for years before I finally gave in and admitted what I had really known for awhile. I feel better and I am absolutely much less likely to have a stroke. It may not be what is happening in your case but I just wanted to put my $00.02 in. Good luck and I hope you figure out what's right for you.
 

nccatfisher

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
I used to have, used to drive me nuts. I have never actually had high BP. But if they didn't get my BP soon as I walked in it would go high. Now since dr. offices is a routine thing for me it doesn't bother me at all.
 

Triggermortis

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
I check folks' BP at work, usually do a couple each day. For every one that says the reading I got is too low, there will be about a dozen who say something like " that's way too high".......
 

manybeards

Ten Pointer
White Coat Fever is a myth! I've been practicing Medicine for over 40 years and have been followed for Hypertension for the past six years.... My Internist NEVER wears a lab coat and yet my BP shoots up every time I go in for a check up! I take Bystolic 5mg every morning and it seems to be working with ZERO side effects....
 

josh

Old Mossy Horns
Contributor
Oh I guarantee mine is higher than normal at the drs office, my biggest phobia is needles, not so much doctors in general but just the fact that there are needles at the hospital lol , still scares the crap out of me to this day. I don’t like human blood either

Animal blood don’t bother me one bit though haha, I can gut a deer with no gloves and put Copenhagen in my mouth afterwards but the hospital makes me woozy
 

wcjones

Twelve Pointer
Contributor
It sounds kinda crazy but mine is better at the doctors office....there are several nurses in the family and one of the “fun” things they like to do is see who’s bp is the lowest. For some reason this competition gets me so worked up that my bp goes through the roof. The first time it happened I went in for a physical a few weeks later cause I thought I was gonna have to be put on medicine for High bp. When I got it checked at the doctors it was normal.
 

Ol Copper

Twelve Pointer
Oh I guarantee mine is higher than normal at the drs office, my biggest phobia is needles, not so much doctors in general but just the fact that there are needles at the hospital lol

Agree 100%
My biggest fear is needles. When I go for my yearly physical the lab tech draws my blood first, then gives me time to settle down before checking my BP. Its always normal with no concerns.
When I do my wellness check every year at work for the insurance company I beg them to do it the same way but they wont. They mock a big ol guy like me for being afraid, check my BP and flag me every year for hypertension, then demand I see my doctor for it. Goofs....
 

Homebrewale

Old Mossy Horns
Oh I guarantee mine is higher than normal at the drs office, my biggest phobia is needles, not so much doctors in general but just the fact that there are needles at the hospital lol , still scares the crap out of me to this day. I don’t like human blood either

Animal blood don’t bother me one bit though haha, I can gut a deer with no gloves and put Copenhagen in my mouth afterwards but the hospital makes me woozy

I had the fear of needles for years due to a painful spinal tap as a teenager. I finally decided to start donating blood. I have donated almost 10 gallons so far. It has helped me get over the fear.
 
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