This new study found that white coat hypertension is not as easy to cure as thought. Attention to and treating white coat hypertension is still important to prevent target organ damage.
A recent study showed that doctors often prescribe antihypertensive medication to patients with white-coat hypertension. This makes sense because they’re worried about it causing complications. But is it really necessary?
The study was carried out in the U.S., where hypertension is high. The researchers asked people aged 18-85 to sit down and take their blood pressure three times, once at work and twice at home. They found that almost half of those who had white coat hypertension (i.e., their blood pressure was higher when they were at work than when they were at home) also had hypertension. It’s not always easy to tell if someone is hypertensive just by looking at them.
White coat hypertension, or WCH, is defined as high blood pressure in a patient who has recently been in a doctor’s office.
A 2017 study found that the incidence of WCH among patients visiting a primary care physician was nearly 25%. In other words, more than 1 in 4 people who came to their doctor with high blood pressure were given medication to treat it.
That’s a lot of unnecessary medications! Let’s discuss what exactly WCH is, why it happens, and if there’s anything you can do about it.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a common chronic condition that affects over 25% of American adults. It is the number one risk factor for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and diabetes. People who have hypertension should be treated to reduce the risk of future cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. One of the most effective ways to treat high blood pressure is with a prescription drug called an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or ACEI. These drugs slow the production of angiotensin in the body, which helps to reduce blood pressure by increasing blood flow to the heart.
What is white-coat hypertension?
A recent study showed that doctors often prescribe antihypertensive medication to patients with white-coat hypertension. This makes sense because they’re worried about it causing complications. But is it really necessary?
White coat hypertension, or WCH, is defined as high blood pressure in a patient who has recently been in a doctor’s office.
The condition is most common among patients who have just come for a regular checkup. Doctors use this kind of blood pressure to identify people who may be at risk for heart disease and other health problems. Doctors know the importance of managing your blood pressure but want to ensure you do not risk complications by over-medicating. You can get white coat hypertension if you have the following:
Who is White Coat Hypertensive?
According to the Mayo Clinic, WCH occurs when a patient feels anxious, nervous, or embarrassed about having high blood pressure.
It is also believed that WCH is more common among young adults and women and is most likely to occur in the doctor’s office.
The symptoms of WCH include: • Nervousness or anxiety • Feeling nervous, anxious, or worried about high blood pressure • Having trouble concentrating or thinking clearly • Feeling tense or stressed • Feeling embarrassed or ashamed about having high blood pressure • Being afraid of what people might think if they knew you had high blood pressure • Feeling afraid that your blood pressure will get worse • Being afraid of having a heart attack or stroke If you have WCH, it may be helpful to know what to do if you feel any of the above symptoms.
How to diagnose and treat white coat hypertension
WCH is common. About 30% of patients have this condition. While it may seem scary, it’s harmless.
White coat hypertension is caused by the patient’s anxiety during a medical visit. The patient usually has white coats during the appointment, so the doctor can’t tell if their blood pressure is high or low.
There are many reasons why WCH happens. It could be anxiety, excitement, or simply being in the doctor’s office.
Doctors can help treat WCH by helping the patient understand the condition and what they can do to manage it.
How to Measure White Coat Hypertension
White coat hypertension (WCH) is a term used to describe patients whose blood pressure is high outside the doctor’s office but low when measured by a medical professional. These patients typically have high blood pressure in their offices, too.
The first thing to do is measure the patient’s blood pressure. Then, the doctor can determine if the blood pressure is white-coat hypertension. There are several ways to do this, but here are two of the most common:
- Measure the blood pressure at home.
- Get the patient’s blood pressure in the office.
Frequently asked questions about White Coat Hypertension.
Q: What does it mean to have white-coat hypertension?
A: White coat hypertension (WCH) means a person has hypertension in the doctor’s office but not outside. WCH can happen to anyone, no matter their age or gender. It’s also called “white coat syndrome.”
Q: How common is WCH?
A: The National Institutes of Health estimates more than 60 million Americans have high blood pressure. This includes 30 million who are unaware they have hypertension. About 8 percent of those with high blood pressure are considered to have white-coat hypertension.
Q: Why might someone develop WCH?
A: Many factors could contribute to WCH. One factor is anxiety. People with anxiety tend to increase their heart rate when stressed, which may lead to WCH. Another factor is the fear that they won’t pass the test if their doctor sees them in their office.
Top Myths About White Coat Hypertension
- White coat hypertension is a common problem.
- White coat hypertension only occurs in young people.
- White coat hypertension can only be the result of psychological problems.
Conclusion
It’s quite common for patients to experience these symptoms when their doctor asks them to remove their white lab coats.
The good news is that white-coat hypertension doesn’t have to cause permanent damage to the heart.
The best treatment for white coat hypertension is to prevent it from occurring in the first place.
That means understanding how stress can affect your heart health and taking steps to reduce your stress levels. Let’s start with what is white coat hypertension, what causes it, and what it looks like. White Coat Hypertension First, we’ll look at what white coat hypertension is and what it isn’t. White coat hypertension is a condition where a patient experiences symptoms such as palpitations, increased heart rate, sweating, and shaking. This condition is commonly misdiagnosed as high blood pressure. However, it is not hypertension.
