Can white coat syndrome eventually lead to consistent high blood pressure?
White coat syndrome can come from more than just the anxiety of sitting in a doctor's office. It may be that the person who takes the BP isn't letting the patient sit at rest for long enough. Or they may be taking it while the patient is sitting on an exam table with their feet dangling. Or the patient may have just had a cup of coffee or a cigarette before their appointment. The bottom line is that you need a history of true resting readings before diagnosing hypertension.
It's best to take BP first thing in the morning (before that first infusion of food or drugs of choice), after sitting in a chair for a few minutes with feet flat on the floor. The digital BP cuffs you can find in a local drug store are excellent, and a good one can usually be found for around $50. (Ask your pharmacist for a recommendation.) Try to find one that fits above the elbow and has an appropriate cuff size. (
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How do you overcome 'White Coat' syndrome (blood pressure readings)? I get very, but very panicky-high numbers?
White Coat syndrome is very common. Most doctors understand this condition and sometimes they will have you purchase your own blood pressure monitor to use at home and record your readings -
Otherwise, you can try deep breathing for a few minutes before your doctor takes your BP and tell the doctor that you always seem to have high readings because of panicky feelings.
The doctor may have other remedies for you to try.
Be sure to let them know you get blood pressure readings that are high because you are nervous. (
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High blood pressure or white coat syndrome?
Hi - every since i was 18, whenever I go to the Dr., and the RN breaks out the cuff to take my BP, I feel my heart start to race, and of course, it always turns out that she measures me at ~130/90, sometimes as high as 150/98. I have always just explained it away as white coat syndrome, and the MD has never looked into it further.
My question is, now that I am 29, and this has gone on for over 10 years, I am beginning to wonder if this elevated BP is actually present all the time, and not just while I am at the MD office. How can I tell? Since everytime I see the cuff, my heart starts to race b/c I am nervous about it being high?
p.s., I am a healthy, active, slender, professional female with no other significant med hx, besides a mitral valve prolapse, and murmur in the mitral valve... with regurge.
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Based on another question you have "trace regurge in my mitral valve" It may not seem much to you but the difference between trace regurg and moderate regurg is huge. Trace regurg is not even enough to mention as it is as common as brown eyes. Regurg beyond a "trace" begins to be a much bigger deal.
As far as your blood pressure concern, others have given you good advice about getting a home device and checking it several times a day over a week. If its normal (less than 130/85) then forget it. If it is high-normal consider what lifestyle changes you might make to improve the condition. If it is elevated (>140/90) then talk with your doctor about it. If you are trying to avoid long-term consequences of untreated hypertension (congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, kidney dysfunction, stroke, CAD) do what you need to to control it, including taking medication if needed.
Good luck. (
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can high blood pressure be a symptom of POTS syndrome, along with a high pulse rate?
no, see http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/postural_tachycardia_syndrome/postural_tachycardia_syndrome.htm (
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What causes blood pressure to fluctuate many times during the day from "high" to relatively "normal"?
I am 74 years old, mildly overweight, don't smoke or drink, eat extremely healthfully, get sufficient restful sleep, take no medications, am always busy reading, studying, etc. I know I have the "white coat syndrome" because my blood pressure goes over 180/95+ in the doctor's office, so I got a portable blood pressure machine that has a wrist cuff and take my pressure eight or ten times a day. It can be anywhere from 185/95 to 132/75 and is never ever constant. I have tried breathing exercises which seem helpful. I do not want to take any medicines. I tried going off caffeine and salt for a couple of weeks, but that doesn't matter---still fluctuates wildly. I would otherwise consider myself in very good health.
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First, don't take your blood pressure so many times in a day. You are going to stress yourself out about it.
At the doctors office, like you know, it is natural to have your BP go up. Many doctors will even tell you this. It is good that you got the machine for home, but try to limit yourself to 2 times a day (morning and evening). Like they say when weighing yourself, try to do it at the same time each day.
Your level of activity may have something to do with the fluctuation as well. The breathing exercises are good, regardless of BP issues. trying to cut out the caffeine and salt are also good. You might try getting a little more active. Reading and studying all the time are great, but you need to get some more exercise. (
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Herniated Disc, High Blood Pressure, Cauda Equina Syndrome?
A few weeks ago I had lower back pain and took painkillers to resolve it. It then moved into my butt as a constant dull pain with periods of sharp pains. I started to get very bad headaches. Then it moved from my butt to my legs. First to the bottom of my foot for about one week and then travelled up my leg to my butt. It felt like when you stub your toe and it tingles (like pins and needles) but is numb at the same time. So I went to my doctor and he did a physical exam. He said I have a herniated disc, high blood pressure and possibly Cauda Equina Syndrome. That was last week. He has ordered an MRI for me but I do not have a date yet for the MRI. But when researching Cauda Equina Syndrome on the internet it seems like a condition that requires urgent attention. Should I be worried? I still have the paralysis in my legs, butt, and bottom of feet and bad headaches.
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i'd say you have good cause to be worried. Have you tried the site below, it seems to have allot of good info about this, such as medical treatment, medications, etc. Good luck, hope you get better asap. (
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what does it mean when your blood pressure is very low regularly, and your pulse rate is generally very high.?
been to doctors, didnt have much to say apart from my pulse rate was high possibly because i had white coat syndrome, but i normally get it checked at the chemist, or by my aunt. its normally about 80-100, and my bp is 90/55 today, was 69/54 yesterday, i asked a question but didnt get much useful responses. i have already gone to the doctors!! i just hate being giddy and breathless alll the time.
im twenty one and ive always been a bit light headed only its getting worse and normally happens when im worried or stressed which im not at the mo>
im quite anaemic too if that helps
i havent done twenty readings a day (lol)! but i have had it done at the same time first thing in the morning and after lunch just to see what would come up and my pulse has always been really high and my bp low
i work one day a week in a chemist and i do blood pressure readings for customers and ive noticed their pulse rate is normally in the range of fifty to about seventy five so thats when i first started thinking about my own pulse and now of course the giddiness is really starting to become more obvious and i have to sit down a lot more if say ive got up too fast or just started blacking out
thanks
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Hi, - both your pulse rates and B/P's vary by huge amounts over the course of the day. A single reading, whether by your doctor, a pharmacist, or your aunt, is pretty meaningless because it's just like being blind-folded and sticking a pin into a board. To check this, borrow a wrist or upper-arm monitor and record about 20 readings over the course of the day. You'll be amazed, and will understand why it's so silly when people say "My blood pressure is 140/88".....
Any B/P reading depends on several factors. (1) Time of day, (2) type of activity (or rest), (3) pulse rate, (4) which arm is used, and importantly, the ratio between pulse rate and pulse pressure at the time (pulse pressure is the difference between systolic (he top one) and diastolic (the bottom one) pressures, and of course, the amount of blood flowing, and the degree of dilation of the arteries.
So, the miracle is, that you ever get 2 readings that ever agree! Mostly, they don't. That's why your doctor won't ever be able to give you 'a useful response'. It isn't possible.
- All they look for is "Is it normal? -or abnormal?" and since no 2 doctors ever agree on what's 'normal', or 'abnormal', it's not surprising you're beng left in the dark.
Actually, your B/P's are absolutely typical, and give no cause for any queries, -if that helps? But I can't tell you more, not knowing your age, health condition, etc. If you want to add any details to your question, it may help. For instance, if you're teenage or slightly older, (I mean under about 30) then it's quite common to experience light-headedness or even faintings, - it's called 'syncope', and usually alleviates with maturity.
If you're already older, then lots of other conditions might explain the giddyness and breathlessness, and it may be nothing to do with your cardiovascular system
OK, PS. - Your age etc all indicate syncope.. I'd explore that if I were you, but since the doctors don't know much about it, don't expect miracles. I associate in a Research Group called PUMMA (Oxford) looking into the mysteries of it.
You get a big shot of adrenaline each morning on waking and rising, which might account for your high pulse then. And you always get a raised pulse after meals -to aid flow to the stomach and digestive organs. So it's worth taking readings say, late mornings? and when you're tired and resting just before bed? If you can be bothered to take a reading just before falling asleep, or the instant you wake, still sleepy (before the wake-up adrenaline kicks in) I'd guess your pulse would be lower and your B/P's probably too?
If that's the case, then your system's working fine.
Just one more thing.. take your pulse sitting, and then stand up and jump around a bit and take it again. It should quickly rise, then fall back to the original, within a few minutes. If all that happens, then you're just a normal, healthy, (and happy, I hope!) Twenty-Something.
The actual B/P levels don't mean thing, -contrary to popular belief. It's CHANGES in the readings that are significant. So, if your B/P's had SUDDENLY gone down, you'd have cause for worries, - but in your case it appears that (like freckles or spots, or blonde hair) your personal characteristic is a high pulse and probably a low pulse-pressure, which when multiplied by each other give your correct cardiac output.
Good luck, - don't let a little knowledge turn you into an introspective hypochondriac! Enjoy the best time of your life and let the doctors do the worrying. (
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Nifedipine but I havent got high blood pressure?
I dont have high blood pressure but my doc is trying me on Nifedipine to try and see if it helps with my Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Anyone have any experiences of this medication? And is it harmful to take it if you dont have high blood pressure? Thanks
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Since there is no cure (yet) for CFS this is an experimental thing of your doctor. It is used to lower your blood pressure so it does seem pretty dangerous to be honest if you don't have high blood pressure.
If I where you, I wouldn't go for this. It can't cure you and who knows what wrong it can do. Your body doesn't need more things to fight right now, does it?
Anyway, I'm not you and I have never tried Nifedipine.
So my best advise is to do enough research yourself, check out all the things this medicine does and put it in the scale. Is the experiment worth it for you? Can you find things on the net about people like you who took it and benefited from it? (
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high pressure?
so im 16 and have high blood pressure, what food should i avoid and what food should be on my menu?
i have been to the doctor, he was the one to tell me that i have high pressure, didn't tell me what to avoid however except coffee and dark chocolate.
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Hi,
First of all you should see a Doctor to find out what is producing it.
But meanwhile stay away from salts and caffines and hot seasonings and sugars. and last red meat.
And last if you have a problem in your mind that can also produce high blood pressure.
I do urge you again see a Doctor because being so young it could be many other problems.
take care.
Rosy (
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High Pressure?
Alright, I am pretty pale and my school is known for there tan georgeous girls. Paleness might be my only problem so for winter homecoming I was considering doing a couple high pressure sessions ( this is only once a year so please don't answer by saying don't tan you are going to get skin cancer!)
I just want color!! How do high pressure beds work? People have told me that they don't burn you but I don't understand why. To get alot of color, how often would you suggest I go or does one visit make a big impact...
Anybody have personnal experiences with high pressure beds and recommend them??
thankyouuu
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Yeah (
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