What is white coat syndrome?

Many people believe they have white coat syndrome, meaning that their blood pressure only goes up when they visit the doctor’s office. This is a real phenomenon. Having your blood pressure checked is a test, and tests can make people nervous. Being at the doctor’s office and worrying that something might be wrong can also cause your blood pressure to be higher than it is at home.

The most important thing is to be honest with yourself. If you check your blood pressure at home (or have a loved one check it) and it remains elevated, you shouldn’t ignore it. High blood pressure can be treated in many ways, including medication, diet and exercise.

High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already damaged the body. That is why it’s important to address it if your blood pressure is consistently high.

It’s also important to remember that if your blood pressure rises simply from seeing a doctor’s white coat, it may also rise during other stressful situations (such as sitting in traffic or dealing with a stressful situation at work). Your blood pressure may be increasing more often than you realize.