A client recently wrote to me telling me that her husband’s blood pressure is always measured as high when he goes to his doctor but when he measures it at home, it’s of a normal reading.
She wanted to know if this could be caused by her husband being nervous about seeing her doctor (even though he could not recall feeling nervous so it would have had to have been at an unconscious level) and if so, can this be as dangerous as chronic high blood pressure.
High blood pressure only when you see your doctor? How ironic! What my client describes, however, is a phenomenon known as white coat syndrome, or white coat hypertension.
White coat syndrome is a situation where a person’s blood pressure is raised when in a doctor’s office (and sometimes in an office setting) but normal in his or her home life. Studies suggest this condition affects between 10% – 20 % of the population.
Diagnosing this is tricky, though, as one tends to measure one’s blood pressure only when at the doctor. Experts suggest purchasing a blood pressure monitor which one wears for a twenty four hour period and blood pressure is measured at different intervals.
Also keep in mind that errors occasionally occur when measuring blood pressure at the doctor’s office. The most commonly reported error is medical personnel using a blood pressure cuff that is too small – this commonly leads to an inaccurately high reading.
Is white coat syndrome dangerous to one’s overall health? Experts place the risk much lower than with chronic high blood pressure but somewhat higher than normal.
It’s important to recognize how often your blood pressure spikes and for how long it remains high. If you experience this condition only at the doctor’s office, it’s likely not going to be a concern. If, however, you experience high blood pressure only at work but for eight or more hours a day, this could lead to chronic high blood pressure.
What commonly happens is that patients will “self-diagnose” and decide themselves that they are suffering not from hypertension, but from white coat syndrome.
This is common because almost no one WANTS to have a disease. It’s easier to just dismiss the condition. Or, as many of my clients have told me, they absolutely dread having to take medications – all of which can have serious side effects.
I encourage you to see your doctor and determine together whether or not you have white coat syndrome. Regardless of whether or not this is the case or you do indeed have hypertension, I highly recommend my High Blood Pressure program. It’s all natural, no medication and most importantly, it works … and no office visit needed 
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