Question: Do Some People Really Have High Blood Pressure Only in the Doctor's Office?
Answer: The phenomenon of high blood pressure which occurs only at the doctor's office is called whitecoat hypertension.
Whitecoat hypertension is a result of stress, and will generally fade over time as patients become more adjusted to having their blood pressure checked in the doctor's office.
Studies suggest that this is actually a relatively common problem, affecting up to 20 percent of the population.1
In severe cases, or when an accurate blood pressure reading must be obtained, patients may be fitted with a home monitoring device for 24 to 48 hours.
Continue Reading: Treatment for Whitecoat Hypertension
1Pickering, TG, James, GD, Boddie, C, et al. How common is white coat hypertension? JAMA 1988; 259:225.
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