White Coat Hypertension? Get your own Blood Pressure Monitor...

[axegrinder]

Hi again, feeling fine this morning, if the world is going to end it had better hurry up, after all, it is the shortest day!

Anyway, did a tad of xmas shopping yesterday, had to get out the house to get the wife and daughter some presents, and while at my local catalogue shop, I decided to pick up a BP monitor. I had a reading at the height of an anxiety attack at the practice nurse's the other day of 220/100 and another of 180/100, and as a result was referred for a fasting blood test to check for other underlying conditions. The doctor the following day measured it at 160/94. This was quite worrying considering even though only in my 30's I am 4 stone overweight, drink a fair bit, don't exercise, and adore sausage rolls!

I bought one of those wrist monitors, they are small and cost about £20, and it turns out I have a normalish blood pressure, averaging about 125/75, so panic over, but saying that, it is still concerning that it goes so high when I get in to that state, all the reason to get more help to sort it out!

I could imagine getting obsessed with checking your BP could be a problem, but it certainly helps to get a reading when you are not in the stressful situation of a GP surgery.

[BriarRose]

Well done, Axegrinder, my sis get white coat syndrome, they only have to go near her with a blood pressure whats-it and hers goes into the stratosphere! Don't get too obsessed with taking it - she did, after her heart attack, but even worse, she got obsessed with taking mine - I HATE having it done, (not "White Coat" just hate the feeling) and was fighting off her and her bl**dy machine ROFL!!!!

good luck and stay off those sausage rolls! Love Rose

[Hidden]

Hi. Axe. Doctors always take into account your tension while you are in their surgery. They ajust the reading accordingly. My view, and it is only my view, is that these gadgets are dangerous. Blood pressure is a very personal thing and what is normal for one is not for another. It depends on so many factors. Age, height, weight, temperament, male, female, pregnant or not!, the weather, etc, etc. I had a friend who, suffering from health anxiety, took his own readings every day for a month. Was worried sick. Took them to his GP who threw them in the WPB and said, "Right, let an expert have a go". He took his blood pressure which was normal. For a whole month he had frightened himself because his expensive machine was not working properly. Doctors have their machines checked regularly. We do get in a tiz don't we? Regards. jonathan.

[hollow in reply to Hidden]

Pains to have to agree with jonathan twice in one month but I fear your money would have been best spent elsewhere. With all the good intention in the world these things can become a nightmare pretty quickly, I know I've been there, I saw it as a triumph when I shoved the damn thing in a the drawer and have not touched it since. Don't fall into the trap of constantly checking your BP it varies and fluctuates so much over the course of the day depending on a whole load of environmental, internal factors that you will drive yourself to distraction.

[Bramwell]

I would NEVER get such a machine as 1. I have no idea about what's good and bad blood pressure and 2. suffering from Health Anxiety I would be checking it every five minutes and then Googling the readings to terrify myself with the results.

[Hidden in reply to Bramwell]

Hi. Bramwell. It is good to come upon a realist. That is just the point. Through ignorance we can frighten ourselves (almost) to death!. Best wishes. jonathan.

[stde]

Great result, good news!!! Now that your mind is at rest,find your reciept and return it to the shop.......please.... as these m/cs can turn into your worst enemy....leave it to the doctor...be well......

[axegrinder]

I can't take it back - it is excluded from the 30 day money back guarantee

For me it was reassuring, but I can see how it could create its own set of problems, I will try to use it wisely.....