when at doctor's office bp of 180/90 to 190/106 measured and when bp readings taken at home are in normal range. Is this dangerous and should I see some kind of specialist? I'm on two different types of bp medicine. Most of time when bp readings are taken at home, they are within normal limits.
Hi L. Connor,
White coat syndrome is a "real" condition that is fairly common. You get a little stressed out knowing your blood pressure is going to be checked and waiting to see if you "pass the test". It's possible to have a high bp when checked first thing during an appointment, visit with you MD for awhile, and be rechecked with a perfectly normal reading. Discuss with your MD to see if there's another way you could monitor your blood pressure to rule out the interference of an actual doctor's appointment. Your doctor may be okay using your home blood pressure readings to monitor treatment effectiveness. Some studies do indicate that white coat hypertension is still a cause for concern since it changes your vascular resistance and is linked to elevated blood fats, increased LDL cholesterol, and insulin resistance.
Whether or not to see a specialist. . .I recommend first consulting your current physician.
All the best,
Lisa Nelson, RD, LN
Natural Ways to Lower High Blood Pressure
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