Q: Is it true that blood pressure rises when a person is speaking, and if so should they not be asking you questions while bp is being taken in the doctors office?
A: Blood pressure goes up with talking. You should not speak while your blood pressure is being taking. Sometimes office staff forgets this fact. If you are asked a question, refrain from answering until after the measurement has been taken.
Further Reading:
How To Avoid Mistakes in Measuring High Blood Pressure – HowToDoThings.com
I have a follow-on question. My doctors staff also takes my temp orally while taking my BP. For me, it’s hard to relax while they’re taking my BP, and hard to do slow deep breathing when they shove the thermometer in my mouth. Could this be leading to higher BP readings in the doctors office?
It’s all Bull!
Best to get your own bp monitor, make sure it is calibrated, and take your own bp readings. You can keep a journal like I do, and when I do go to my dr., I take my journal that shows a history of bp readings. Don’t just rely on what happens in a dr. office, it cannot be a very accurate picture of your true bp. ( They are finally used to me doing this now, so I don’t have to fight with them!)
What can I do to get over my “white coat syndrome”, when I go to the doctor and they take my bp it spikes really high??
I have been keeping track of my readings at home, but actually have been having anxiety over this.
My readings I get at home are really good(ex: 119/69; 125/72, and 115/73) I have been taking my bp monitor in so the doctor’s can see for them selves.
I want to get the “white coat syndrome” under control any suggestions?
Please help?????????
Thank you.