Q: When I get upset, my blood pressure goes way up, but just as quickly goes down to normal between 120-130 over 75-80. Going to the doctor, or dentist, or even hearing a news story on the radio that angers or frightens me causes my blood pressure to jump as high as 200 over 120. Blood pressure medication has proven to have no effect, so it makes no sense to take it with all the side effects. I don’t know what to do except maybe stay cocooned away from the outside world, but that isn’t practical. How many other people are there like me?
A: You are describing a condition known as “white coat high blood pressure”. Studies I have seen suggest this may occur in over 30% of the adult population but the studies are limited. The concern is this condition might lead to permanent high blood pressure in the future. Now is the time to make any appropriate life style changes. Most of us could stand to lose a few pounds
and exercise more. In addition, you might want to start using the RESPeRATE.
Further Reading:
What is RESPeRATE? – Resperate.com
(23 votes, average: 3.35 out of 5)
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Yes, try Resperate. But also consider hypnotherapy. And by the way, it is called “White Coat Reaction.” You can try a form of meditation also.
It is difficult to control that kind of reaction.
Thanks for the “White Coat Reaction” information, cuz I have that for sure! I can control, if left alone, quiet, and able to process my thoughts without too much negative outside influence!
White Coat Syndrome is probably an involuntary adrenaline surge. I’ve had it for years also, spikes to 200+/110. Tried Beta blocker for awhile but BP sunk to 88/49 after a day or two and it only cut the spikes down to 160-180/75-80. Not much of anything helps. I wish the doctors would listen to their patients once in awhile instead of prescribing drugs that aren’t needed nor even help.
My doc gave me a stress/anxiety supplement to take before the appointment to see if that resolves the White Coat problem I have. I’m going to try it at my next appt. I’m 190/100 at the Dr. ofice and 116/65 at home.
what did he give you?
Its called Stress-X and contains Theanine and GABA. He wants me to take two capsules. Haven’t tried yet to see if it helps but will on my annual exam in a month or so.
Jose,what didthe doc.give you to take…I’m doing the same thing.. my bp is fine at home but when I go to the doctor or even riding in a car..my bp gets to high….
Curious…what stress/anxiety supplement did you take before the office visit? I’m the same way and don’t know what to do at this point?
Meditation might help. I would suggest vipassana, as you mostly watch the breath.
I have the same problem with anxiety at doctor or dentist office and have had it all my adult life . Even at 106 lbs and active. BP goes up to 190/100 while at home it is 116/65. Medication keeps it a few points lower at doctors office but not much , then at home BP runs 88/50 if I use the meds. One nurse takes my BP with a manual thing and she does it so fast I don’t get nervous and BP shows up very normal. When docs get upset at my high pressure and keep taking it, then it keeps getting higher.
Oh my goodness, I thought I was the only weird, sensitive person like you! I could hug you, you are like my angel! Thanks for letting me know that there are others like me in this fast paced, unfeeling world!
YOUR NOT ALONE IN THAT….ALL MY ADULT LIFE….130/85 AT HOME….DOCTOR, OR DENTIST OFFICE….190/100….ALWAYS
Wow – Everyone and Dr. Rowena –
This is me for sure! I have also had it all my life. I am starting Resperate and I am optimistic that it will help.
I am a guy who exercises vigorously every single day, and my diet is veg only and very healthy.
Let’s all hang in there on this!
\Best wishes to everyone.
I finally found my REAL FAMILY! Everyone on this blog is my true family! I really thought I was the ONLY PERSON LIKE THAT! I went to the dr’s several days ago, I could feel the pressure coming, so I made sure I took my meds to keep it down. Then weird things started happening, so I tried to ignore them, I missed the bus, I mean, bunches of strange things happened. I was running late, I could feel the pressure building, even though I was breathing slowly! I got to the dr’s my pressure was 200/180! I told the nurse I had White Coat issues, she commented “thats a whole lot of nervousness, which made me stress even more! The dr came in and sweetly talked to me, I could feel the pressure going down, she suggested breathing, exercise, etc. I started feeling better, cuz she seemed to understand and NOT FORCE MEDS, or critize,or use scare tactics! All that lead me to this website, looking for solutions, instead of MORE MEDICATIONS!
That is totally me. Everytime I go to the doctor or dentist my blood pressure shots up to 190/120. It does start coming down. Even when I take my medication before hand it still goes up. The doctor said I have situational hypertension. I’m terrified of going to the doctor. If I could go and them not take my bp I’d be happy.
I have the same problem, I take my BP at home and it’s in the normal range, but at the Dr.s office it is high. I eat healthy and excercise.
It’s also my problem. I read 120/80 before leaving the house for doc check up..doc secretary reading 150/90, doc get my reading lying down 160/100, sitting 140/90, standing 140/90. gave me pritor 40mg for maintenance but 1st time i take pritor at dinner my bp in the morning went down to 100/60.. i discontinue pritor and monitor my bp and all readings were normal until today at 110/70..
I’m the same, Doctor suggested learning relaxation techniques.I had to stop watching the TV series 24 as it sent my BP through the roof and gave me anxiety ectopic beats.
When I had a shoulder op last year, I had a wonderful anaesthetist who put me out very quickly, as he could see how scared I was. My BP returned to normal after the op
OMG…THATS THE SAME FOR ME, CAN’T WATCH LIFE OR DEATH SITUATIONS ON TV. CUZ I START THINKING BOUT THE WORLD, AND IT’S HEARTLESSNESS. I GUESS I’M JUST A LOVE BUG! I WILL SAVE MY MONEY TO PURCHASE A RESPARTE MACHINE! I PRAY IT HELPS ME! I’M SURE IT WILL CUZ I DO SO WELL WITH BREATHING IF I’M LEFT ALONE, WITH SENSIBLE CONVERSATIONS, NOT DRAMA AND IGNORANCE!
Hi, I am the same. I have stopped getting papers and watching the news for all the doom and gloom. TV it’s anything not upsetting and usually if I can light hearted. My love of animals also now has stopped me watching these programmes because they are always fighting for survival – especially man
I have the same problem, BP goes sky high in doctor or dental office. My doctor says it probably does this under everyday stress and anxiety as well. My BP also falls back to normal afterwards. The first doctor said my BP was sever and put me on meds. Well that sent it down as low as 86/49. When I went back for the follow up visit, 180/80 again in the doctor office, so the meds don’t prevent this as you elude to. Relaxation therapy is probably the answer but easier said than done.
I have the same problem and have found that my blood pressure spikes and drops throughout the day, especially if I feel anxiety or anger, and sometimes positive emotions as well. I have tried several medications and have had the same problems other describe, I have to take a large dose to get it slightly down at the doctor’s office, and then it plummets afterwards. Eventually I always get bad side effects from the meds. For me the best treatment is physical exercise, that always brings it down at least for a while. I also try relaxation techniques which help keep it down in my daily life, but nothing works well at the doctor’s office. It doesn’t help that doctors don’t seem to understand the problem and suggest that I’m the only person with this problem.
I have the same problem! Before the last doctor’s visit, I checked my bp, it was 130/80. Got into the doctor’s office and it was 170/100. She wanted to double my medication and put me on prozac. I said a definite no to the prozac but am supposed to return for another bp check soon. I am confused about what to do. Additionally, when I got home it was still up 158/96 but then returned to normal later. I have been taking my bp regularly at home for over a year, exercise, try to eat healthy, gave up coffee and alcohol. My bp varies between 116/68 and 135/85. It tends to hike up to on a stressful day. I am upset that the doctor does not understand the anxiety some of us feel during a medical exam nor is willing to acknowledge at home readings and just wants to treat it all with more meds for life.
Hi Everyone: I just read all your blood pressure stories and I am writing to let you know about Resperate. Like you, I have white coat syndrome and have had it all my life. I started on Resperate almost four years ago and I am very pleased to report that it has kept my blood pressure down all this time, with no medication. Buying the Resperate was the best investment I ever made for my health. I also watch my salt intake, work out at the local gym and watch what I eat. I take a blood pressure reading once a week and record it. Whenever I go to the doctor for a check-up, I bring the report and she is satisfied that I am doing so well. In fact, my doctor tells me that she wishes all of her patients worked as diligently as I do to stay healthy. She says that most of her patients are not satisfied unless they leave her office with some kind of prescription. She says she tells them about diet, vitamins, exercise but it falls on deaf ears. They just want a prescription! Do youself a big favor and check out the information on Resperate. I’m glad that I did.
i have high blood pressure and migren headek anxiety namnes in my back ,i really will appriciate any advice what can help me to feel better
This is me. I have hypertension anyway and have been on medications. Today under a stressful situation of having my blood pressure taken by someone who was not my doctor’s office it went to 200/105. When I got home it was 130/90. I wish people would believe you. They make matters worse with telling you that you need to be in the hospital. I know my body and what makes it go up.
Same sad story here from Florida. Doc put me on meds, that actually had no effect since my home readings were normal. So two months laters I stopped them. Once at the doc’s office the same spikes (190/100). He freaks out and that freaks me out as well. Back home, normal readings. If I react like this to the doctors, what happens if I need to have surgery? Will anyone operate on me or will they put me on powerful meds before that actually may do more harm than good? I am very distressed over this.
Hi Athena,
We hear many personal stories like yours about “White Coat” syndrome and we mentioned it in our latest post: The Best Ways to Achieve Accurate BP Readings. You may find this article helpful when you go to your doctor for your next blood pressure reading: http://www.lowerpressure.com/the-best-way-to-achieve-accurate-bp-readings/. Many people are faced with this issue and it can be managed. Here are a few more articles that you may also find helpful and empowering:
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/features/beyond-white-coat-syndrome
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/white-coat-hypertension/AN02014
We hope this information was helpful and please keep us posted on how you are doing.
All the best,
The LowerPressure Team
I had mild hypertension via home monitoring and very high spikes due to the white coat syndrome. The white coat effect may or may not be normal. Just focus on your baseline home BP as I see it. I was able to get my mild hypertension into the normal range with lifestyle changes but it still spiked at my last exam. I suspect it may be adrenal related and I have undergone some testing and now take some targeted supplements. Since doing this, it hasn’t spiked higher than about 140/80.