Q. When I was 18 years old I went to join the Army Reserves. I weighed 165 and was in great physical condition. When they took my blood pressure, however, it was 200/70. They said I had a very dangerous pressure and told me to go right to my doctor.
My physician put me on a blood pressure med that basically turned me into a zombie. I purchased an old-fashioned blood pressure cuff and found my blood pressure was 130/70 when I took it.
I recently purchased a high-end digital blood pressure unit and take and log my pressure regularly. To this day, 35 years later, I still have white coat hypertension. I went to the doctor last week and it was 200/90. I went home and took it and it was 125/80.
A. White coat hypertension refers to a situation in which blood pressure readings taken in a doctor’s office or hospital are significantly higher than those taken at home. Studies have shown that home readings are more reliable as a predictor of organ damage or heart disease risk (Hypertension, June, 2010; Journal of Hypertension, June, 2013).
To learn more about the dos and don’ts of blood pressure measurement, along with information on drugs and non-drug approaches, you may wish to consult our Guide to Blood Pressure Treatment.
