Do you think white coat syndrome exists?

Question

My husband recently went to the doctors for a physical and the doctor went on and on about his blood pressure 140/100 yes I know this is high but my husband does get anxious at times. So he put my husband on some meds after a week of home testing his bp I never once got a reading over 132/90 the lowest being 102/68 but today he went back to the docs and more med changes. I think they are treating my husband for the wrong issue. I think he may have an anxiety disorder not blood pressure issues. what do you think?

Answer 1

Oh don't get me started! This cutesy 'white coat syndrome' that the doctors are throwing around lately! Sure most of us would rather take a beating than go to the doctor, so yes, our BP is higher there. If your husband's BP is at the highest 132/90 at home he doesn't need medication. I resisted medication and tried different ways to bring my BP down naturally, so I'll tell you what worked, ultimately.

I take 3000 mg of FLAX SEED OIL every day after I eat dinner. I eat as healthful a diet as possible, with a lot of fresh vegetables, fruits and whole grains, you know the drill. One thing though. Eat a minimum of red meat, if any at all. Then I walk for 1 hour briskly 5 days a week. That's it. My average BP of 148/96 dropped to an average of 128/84.

And YES, a prescription of low dose Xanax to take ONLY if I'm about to stroke out brings it down, just don't get in the habit of taking them daily.

Answer 2

I also have high blood pressure and finally have it under control with the right meds. Took a while because it would leap about 20 points every time I went to the doctors, after recording it at home for 2 weeks was able to convince my doctor the meds were working. Was told I had classic white coat syndrome so yes i believe it exists.

Answer 3

Well white coat syndrome definitely does exist and it's pretty common. The doc should have retested him after he'd been in the office and was sitting for a few minutes. That normally brings it down. I'd keep a blood pressure diary, checking his levels a few times a day three or four times a week and bring that with you when you go back to the doc's office. Also, bring in the cuff you're using at home to the doc's office to make sure that it's reading accurate.

Answer 4

White coat syndrome does exist! Most people have higher blood pressure at the doctors office! My Mom and my husband both have borderline high blood pressure, and test at home daily (sometimes many times daily) and both consistently have higher readings at the doctor's office.

My Mom's doctor even tests her blood pressure twice during an exam, once at the beginning (always higher) and once after chatting with her for a while (it is always lower). That confirms it for me!

Good luck with your husband! I hope this helps.

Answer 5

There are no albino horses. All horses have a least some pigment in them. However there is one gene called the White gene. Heterozygous, meaning one copy will give a horse that is white with blue eyes (thus there is some color) but it is white. HOWEVER, two copies which happens in 25% of the young if you cross two white horses will KILL the foal. Also every once in a great while a horse with overo lethal white syndrome will survive....it is extremely rare but does happen. So there are two cases where a horse can be white. But the vast majority of "white" horses are actually horses with the grey gene, These horses are born with color but the color fades over time and the horse looks white. Lipizzaner Stallions are such grey horses that look white.

Answer 6

Yes, I believe the white coat syndrome is for real! I inherited blood pressure problems from my mother and she has also told me her blood pressure goes up whenever she visits her doctor for routine checkups. And it's the same for me - my doctor even told me I have "white coat syndrome!" Mine does the same thing - everytime I visit my doctor for routine checkups, my blood pressure is up. So what I do is check it each week and record readings (for a more normal B/P reading) then take it in at my next doctor visit, and they put this info in my file.

Answer 7

I think there are people who are anxious around doctors. This is why your doctor is not supposed to make a decision about blood pressure without at least 3 readings. However, if you were getting pressures around 132/90 with your husband on blood pressure medicine and at home, I think your doctor has a legitimate concern.

Answer 8

132/90 isn't good either. Anxiety will not lead to a constant increased level in blood pressure. I would suggest that also the instruments used in a professional medical office are far more accurate than home monitors.