Blood Pressure

[RunMartin]

I went to see my cardiologist yesterday for my six monthly check up. I have not had the results of the echo yet but he did check my blood pressure and said it was 150/80. I use a wrist blood pressure monitor every now and then. Over the last week it has regularly measured 120/70. Are these wrist blood pressure monitors reasonably accurate? When I take a measurement I usually sit down and hold the monitor level with my chest.

It seems that every time I have my blood pressure measured either at hospital or at the doctors it seems high but at home it is OK. I have heard of "white coat syndrome" but I don't not always feel over stressed. I had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor done last year and it was OK (I was resting most of the day when it was monitoring!).

 

[marky]

I have a wrist monitor too, and it does seem fairly accurate.
Could be a bit of white coat syndrome.. sorry I am of no help..hope you can get this resolved quickly

 

[Ross]

Yeap White Coat Disease! It's a well known medical condition.

 

[hensylee]

I don't know about the wrist ones either. I do know about white coat syndrome. I used to have a really big jump every time I went to see the dr.

Everything in the world can cause your bp to fluctuate. Recently I was at my dr's office, his nurse had taken my bp and said it was something over 80, a bit high. When the dr came in we began to talk about an emotional subject (mine); he took my bp and it had jumped 10 points very quickly.

Next time you go to the dr, take your wrist thingy with you and measure your bp when they do it with their machinery and compare the two readings. Then you will know the accuracy. I have done that.

 

[jeffp]

There was an article in today's Wall Street Journal with regard to changing the recommendations for physician monitoring of blood pressure. It stated basically that studies have shown an up to 15 point increase in BP with patients sitting on the exam table with their feet dangling vs sitting in a regular chair with their feet on the floor. It also recommended a relax period of 5 minutes vs during the anxiety of the exam session. (Yeah, like they're going to keep an exam room filled for an extra five minutes per patient - that's over an hour and half less exam room time per day - just to NOT add hypertension to our problem list. )

 

[Phyllis]

It's most likely white coat syndrome. My pcp has waited until the end of the exam to take it again and has been known to dance around and say how good she is when she has managed to relax me enough to get an honest reading!

 

[RunMartin]

Thanks for all your replies. I have just got home from work and immediately checked my blood pressure and it was 138/79. I tried it again several times after 15 minutes (sitting at my computer) and they ranged from 116/70 to 128/75. Therefore it must be White Coat syndrome.

Thanks
Martin

 

[JohnnyV_46]

I"ve dealt with High Blood pressure for about half my life. It was funny it did drop to normal after my surgery but eventually went back up. You should ck at Walgreens and get you an automatic arm cuff. They are about 95% right on with the docs office. I've taken mine with me more than once to verify it.
My doctor knows I get the "White Coat Syndrome"..the nurse will take it and it'll be 150/100. He comes in, looks at the chart, turns out the lights and just tells me to lay back and relax and that he'll ck back in a few minutes...It always drops to nearly normal.Its funny tho that my doctor, none of my doctors!, ever caught my heart murmur from the BAV...The Cardiologist heard it right away. Asked how long I'd known about....Never! Its a good idea to check it occasionally but don't dwell on it. Your blood pressure fluctuates so much thru the day. Just pick a day of the week. Write down what it is and then compare notes with the doctor.

JohnnyV

 

[Der Biermeister]

I I have heard of "white coat syndrome" but I don't not always feel over stressed.

True WCS will not necessarily exhibit a feeling of stress or anxiety. You can be completely relaxed (or at least you think you are) and still have it. It usually will NOT respond to relaxation techniques. I know --- I could write a book on it.