High Blood pressure only in the Doctors office?

Question

Okay so here is my question I have a serious problem which surfaced last pregnancy and is doing so again this pregnancy. My blood pressure is currently stable at 118/72 but every time I got to the Drs office (OB) my BP is at 141 or higher over 80 I think it is nerves and I do have anxiety issues. Last pregnacy I was having non stress tests towards the end and the hospital was saying after being there for 20 minutes that my bp and pulse would return to normal and that I might have mild hypertension at the most and after delivery my BP dropped to 90/55 and I passed out which surprised them. Has anyone experienced this and what can I do to help it? I am very concerned that this is a trend and I own a business and can't afford to be put on bed rest unneccessarily. No sales = No $.

Answer 1

You are (most likely) suffering from White-Coat Syndrome.

"White-coat syndrome is a fear of going to the doctor's office that causes many people to have an elevated blood pressure. (The name refers to the white coats that medical personnel often wear.) Usually, a second blood pressure measurement at the end of the visit will be normal, assuming you haven't been given any alarming news. This is not a problem and doesn't raise your risk for developing any of the problems associated with chronic high blood pressure. A good way to make sure your blood pressure is normal is to make an occasional unscheduled drop-in visit to the doctor's office to have the nurse check your pressure, or to check it at the machines available in pharmacies and grocery stores. Don't be obsessive about it, however!"

Answer 2

I have a friend who is EXACTLY the same as this. Her blood pressure (not only during pregnancy but all the time) is perfectly normal except when she is with a doctor. When she was pregnant with her first, they kept her in for 3 weeks till she had the baby. With her second and third, she bought a monitor and tested her bp every day, to prove it was just the doctors making it high!

Go buy yourself one if you can - it will save you alot of aggro later!

Answer 3

I have this problem even when i wasn't pregnant every time i go to the doctor for something and she takes my bp it is high, but i just tell my doc i feel really anxious in the doctors office and she understands. Once she gave me this bp monitor that you wear constantly for 24 hours when you are at home relaxed, and she(my doctor) was able to see it is normal any other time. Ask your doctor to try this out on you, it is normal for a person to get "white coat anxiety" your doctor should understand this.

Answer 4

Yep, I don't even use the machine anymore. They do mine manually, but my BP is fairly high - nothing too alarming. They monitor me b/c of it, and I now have a specialist in case I develop preeclampsia (sp). Your doctors will know how to work with you. Don't worry. Like the posters above, they may check it again at the end of your appointment. * I was always nervous in my 1st trimester b/c I wanted to hear that everything was ok. I got over that once I passed over into the 2nd trimester. I hope the same can happen for you.

Answer 5

That happens to me too...............my doctor takes my blood pressure several times during my visit because my first one is so high. They call it white coat syndrome.

Answer 6

its actually common enough they have a name for it, white coat syndrome. if you can afford a bp monitor, get one and test every day at home and keep a log to show the doc when you go in. even 2-3 times a day checking for a few days would be good

Answer 7

I had the same problem and I do have general anxiety disorder and my doctor says my heartrate is high as well every time I come in and every time I take it myself it is normal This happened in my pregnancy as well.