White Coat Syndrome

[Syrus_BHF]

Hi all,

Does anyone else have this? I discovered at a medical assessment over the weekend that I have a really bad case of it, my BP skyrocketed to 159/98 when the nurse took my blood pressure, and even after repeated attempts and deep breathing exercises the lowest I could get it was 140/92...the feeling of the cuff tightening around my arm just gave me the sweats and made my heart race all over again!

I regularly check my Heart rate with my Fitbit which has my resting rate consistently around 76-77, so I wonder, does anyone have any tips to treat White Coat Syndrome?

Thanks!

[stevejb1810]

White coat syndrome is incredibly common, that’s why it has a name. So, you are very much not alone and GPS usually make some allowances for it when they do the measurements.

I’m intrigued to know how you measure BP with a Fitbit - I suspect it’s a typo and you meant heart rate, not that there is a correlation between the two anyway.

The best advice I can give you is to buy a blood pressure meter (local chemist or Amazon) and measure your BP at home, record the values and take these with you when you have your next appointment.

[IanGordon in reply to stevejb1810]

I've done just that and produced a weeks data which does not put me in the hypertension treatment zone. Visit the GP/hospital and suddenly I'm hypertensive! I have an Omron BP unit not dissimilar to my GPS so reasonably cofident in its accuracy. Cuffs are apparently more accurate than wrist based monitors. Doubt that fit it will give you the accurate BP measurement needed.

[jimmyq]

Yep! I have White Coat Syndrome, so do a lot of other people. I have my own monitor as stevejb1810 said.

[PeterJemmett]

Yeah, same here. Always take my own 'home' readings when visiting the GP etc.

[Mary_Janet]

I did not used to have white coat syndrome until after my illness last year. Now if either the doctor or nurses take my BP up it goes... After my GP found my BP was high she sent me home with a monitor and recordings morning and after were fine thankfully. Hopefully the white coat syndrome will eventually settle down.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

My GP told me that the population BP levels GPs use to compare an individuals with, include all who visit the GP, so they take account, and include all those who show white coat syndrome. In other words he didn’t take much notice of my own readings at home. If it went up well over 135 in the surgery he recommended BP pills.

I rather wish I’d taken them sooner, now. A lower BP might have delayed or reduced the subsequent heart disease I have.

[Barbdevlin in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi Kristin I too suffer from white coat syndrome and my gp always took his into account, usually sitting quietly it came down within 5 minutes therefore not high blood pressure per se. However I am now waiting on triple bypass and have serious heart disease with family history so in hindsight I should prob have been taking medication for years which might have mitigated family history risks. Likewise I have had cholesterol checked yearly since 40 yrs old and was told it was always in acceptable range of 5.

[A_fi_bR]

My experience of this turned out to be hypertension. I had several blood pressure readings taken at the GP over several years. Just standard check ups and my BP was always a little on the high side and put down to white coat syndrome, so I basically I ignored it. Partly because a lot of these checks were done during my annual asthma clinic.

Anyway, further down the line and I’m getting extra heartbeats and moments where I feel like I’m going to pass out quite regularly. So we discovered I have got hypertension and a slightly enlarged heart, probably due to the extra pressure my heart was under all that time.

[Jaycey]

I have white coat syndrome and do take my BP regularly at home. Just the sound of the telco opening on the cuff sets me off! I constantly fight with my GP about putting me on more BP medication. Since my BP at home is in the normal range I see no reason to take more medication.

[gal4God]

Wen I go the the hospital my heart rate goes up wiv no medicinal reason so they often ask me if I’m stressed and I always am. Wen I check it on my fone it’s normal.

[Hidden]

Yep have it in hospital 6days bp like a baby after heart attack. But gp is up and down even tablets had wear bp cuff for 24 hours still I can feel my self getting worked up .try to calm my self but no up it goes

[Hidden]

Personally I purchased an Omron X3 BP monitor for home use and record daily my own resting BP & HR and keep a spreadsheet of it (pencil and paper works just as well). It is always considerably lower than when done in A&E or GP surgery for obvious reasons.

What matters is your blood pressure over a whole day not just when confronted by a woman or man in a white/green uniform no matter how much they tell you to relax.

If you you can afford £50 I recommend it, it is essentially the same device used by my GP and you can then present a record of your normal BP readings when you are at home relaxed. I don't think GPs mind being confronted with a spreadsheet of BP & HR readings taken at home. It also gives me personally some reassurance.

The X3 also shows HR and can detect abnormal heart rhythm , which you may or may not want to have.