White coat syndrome

[tornquad201]

Well I passed but I knew I was gonna get I higher reading cause on the questions they asked if I had HP I stated I have white coat syndrome . As soon as we go back the girl grabs the small cuff that was my first indication it wasn’t going to be good . 160/78 I said it’s never been that high in my life she just said stress . At home it was 108/68 so I don’t know . I went in fasted and dieting so maybe stress hormones were elevated . But either way I passed

 

[maldorf]

Well I passed but I knew I was gonna get I higher reading cause on the questions they asked if I had HP I stated I have white coat syndrome . As soon as we go back the girl grabs the small cuff that was my first indication it wasn’t going to be good . 160/78 I said it’s never been that high in my life she just said stress . At home it was 108/68 so I don’t know . I went in fasted and dieting so maybe stress hormones were elevated . But either way I passed

Dang, high pulse pressure. Got to wonder if the cuff was too small. Is your cuff at home bigger?

 

[EWRECK]

I get different readings no matter if it’s the blood bank or the docs from what I get at home. You’re able to get more consistent numbers doing it on a regular basis yourself and that’s what I’d go by.

 

[tornquad201]

Dang, high pulse pressure. Got to wonder if the cuff was too small. Is your cuff at home bigger?

Some things I’ve though about #1 am in ketosis and dieting
#2 I went in fasted and starving
#3 I’ve never had a reading like this normally if high it’s 135/85 - 140/90 - 150/100 at the highest in my doctor office .
That’s on no meds I now take a low dose calcium channel blocker

 

[danieltx]

I'm not joking when I say this - the amount of thinking and likely stressing you're doing about your blood pressure is probably elevating it.

Buy your own monitor and take readings at home a few times a day between meals when you've been seated and relaxed for 5-10 minutes. Average those readings and quit worrying about the number at the doctor's office. Bring your home monitor with you the next time they want to test your blood pressure and show them your true numbers.

 

[Cv215]

Lots of people think they just have lab coat syndrome when really they have high BP, you have to make sure. Purchase a good home cuff and take your blood pressure on a regular basis. Then bring this cuff to your doctor's appointment and test its results against your DOCTOR'S reading, don't trust to nurse or nurse's assistant who probably takes it before your doctor, they are notoriously bad.

Yah i was the same way. I go to the doctors everymonth and I'm almost really high, but then when i take my blood pressure at home its wayyy lower. I finally decided to bring mine in and test it alongside the cuff they use at the doctor's. Took two tests with each cuff and they literally matched up perfect. I definitely get this white coat syndrome thing bad. My doctors office makes me anxious as hell and i go every month.

 

[maldorf]

Yah i was the same way. I go to the doctors everymonth and I'm almost really high, but then when i take my blood pressure at home its wayyy lower. I finally decided to bring mine in and test it alongside the cuff they use at the doctor's. Took two tests with each cuff and they literally matched up perfect. I definitely get this white coat syndrome thing bad. My doctors office makes me anxious as hell and i go every month.

Mine has been high for me going into the office at the hospital. I think some of it is I am pissed off from the traffic and trying to find a parking place! Parking is a bitch at most of them.

 

[Ashop]

I have a pre employment physical this week and I have white coat syndrome at home my bp is usually good 110/70 maybe up to 130/85 if I eat junk food but days before my visit I start to think about it knowing there gonna just me from waiting room to taking it . Any tips or supplements I could take before .

Tell them what you told us. They will likely have you sit a bit and let you relax, then re test.

 

[Ashop]

Would taking a Xanax 30-60 before help or make it worst

If they test you for BENZO's you going to flunk. I'm not sure how that works if you have a prescription for it since it's a pre employment test.

 

[MoonUnit]

I’ve battled this for years. With Work physicals every year and with my personal physician. My personal physician made me start taking hydrochlorothiazide. After about two weeks I ended up passed out on the bathroom floor from dangerously low blood pressure. That’s when I bought my own monitor and learned my blood pressure is fine and I have white coat syndrome.

Anxiety is what raises my blood pressure. Just thinking about what my reading is going to be on top of the stress of the waiting room (I HATE waiting rooms, I’m an impatient person).

Supplements that have helped me before a test are phenibut, cialis, and citrulline.

 

[buck]

This always fucks me up because it makes me question my monitors at home and their accuracy. Bringing it with you is the best bet. I hate how they just call you into the room, strap the cuff on, and just take it while asking you questions. They don't even make sure your arm is heart level either

Take your monitor with you and reference it to theirs.

I usually don't get white coat syndrome except with my TRT Dr. but we have disagreed on things at times. But in general I do controlled breathing/meditation while I am waiting for my appointment with the Dr. At home just now I took my BP, waited a couple minutes did 30 seconds of controlled breathing checked it again and dropped my BP 11 points between the 2 test which is not unusual. I have seen studies where a few minutes of meditation/controlled breathing daily lower BP for most people.

 

[maldorf]

Usually after a good exercise session your BP will drop some because of vasodilation. The effect lasts awhile.

 

[tornquad201]

Was thinking about starting another thread as there’s lots of members with this problem . Could being dehydrated before the visit cause more anxiety

 

[gradeaphysique]

I have a pre employment physical this week and I have white coat syndrome at home my bp is usually good 110/70 maybe up to 130/85 if I eat junk food but days before my visit I start to think about it knowing there gonna just me from waiting room to taking it . Any tips or supplements I could take before .

Why would you think a supplement is an appropriate response?

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Lots of people think they just have lab coat syndrome when really they have high BP, you have to make sure. Purchase a good home cuff and take your blood pressure on a regular basis. Then bring this cuff to your doctor's appointment and test its results against your DOCTOR'S reading, don't trust to nurse or nurse's assistant who probably takes it before your doctor, they are notoriously bad.

There's a nurses asst at my doctors office who just doesn't know how to take BP correctly. They don't use an automatic/digital machine. They do it the old fashioned way.
Every time she checks mine she say's it 120/80. I know that my pressure is almost never that low. So when the doctor comes in I get her to recheck it and it is always higher.
So I agree. Do not trust the nurse unless you know from experience that she's good.

 

[maldorf]

There's a nurses asst at my doctors office who just doesn't know how to take BP correctly. They don't use an automatic/digital machine. They do it the old fashioned way.
Every time she checks mine she say's it 120/80. I know that my pressure is almost never that low. So when the doctor comes in I get her to recheck it and it is always higher.
So I agree. Do not trust the nurse unless you know from experience that she's good.

Yeah, I think some of the assistants that take mine aren't so good at it either. Funny thing too because it's so easy to do. Had a professor at college that taught the entire class how to do it accurately in about 20 minutes. The main limitation IMO is a good stethoscope, and the doctors office has good quality ones. Someone that can take it manually the correct way is going to be more accurate than an automatic.

 

[ripriot]

I have a pre employment physical this week and I have white coat syndrome at home my bp is usually good 110/70 maybe up to 130/85 if I eat junk food but days before my visit I start to think about it knowing there gonna just me from waiting room to taking it . Any tips or supplements I could take before .

Take a viagra it will lower BP for sure

 

[tornquad201]

Lots of people think they just have lab coat syndrome when really they have high BP, you have to make sure. Purchase a good home cuff and take your blood pressure on a regular basis. Then bring this cuff to your doctor's appointment and test its results against your DOCTOR'S reading, don't trust to nurse or nurse's assistant who probably takes it before your doctor, they are notoriously bad.

IF you were rushed into the triage area without a chance to relax and it was high but after 10-15 min it returned to normal would that be classified as hypertension due to white coat syndrome

 

[SlickNYC]

If you have bigger arms and they have a standard cuff, move the cuff to the lower part of your arm (closer to your inner elbow gap); it'll show the lower BP reading

Your systolic will show up as elevated otherwise

Use the BP cuff that's an appropriate size normally at home

P.S- If you also have big forearms, good luck lol

This is very common and can raise it substantially.

 

[opietaylor]

compounding my struggle with white coat syndrome is the fact that my female doctor is extremely hot.