White coat hypertension

     
    

White coat refers to the white apron of doctor. When he is taking your blood pressure in the clinic you may become tense and as a result your B.P. may rise above normal. But if your B.P. is taken outside the clinic it may be normal.

This is white coat hypertension.

If your BP is high only in a clinic or hospital and normal at home. 

Everybody does not show this phenomenon. It is seen in highly anxious individuals

Should it be treated? 

No  
It is considered as a temporary rise in blood pressure

Should it be ignored?

Not really. 

To be on the safer side you should improve your lifestyle. 
Reduce your weight and abdominal circumference. This will also help to prevent diabetes.Reduce salt intake and do regular exercise

 Home blood pressure monitoring

Home tracking of blood pressure is very convenient and help you to understand the trend in your B.P.

     measure your B.P.:

1.  when you feel highly stressed and anxious 
2.  when you feel calm and cheerful

 

High blood pressure

       

When blood pressure is above 140/90, drug treatment is started. This is the modern trend.

Is there an urgency?
not really.

International guidelines have recommended modification of lifestyle before starting the drug treatment.

• Reduction of stress

      There may be some conflict at home or at the workplace.        .

• Reduce weight and abdominal circumference

      This would also help to prevent diabetes

• Healthy diet

       Foods rich in omega-3
       Cooking oil (mustard or soybean)
       Fish
       Rajma
       soybean
       Green leaf vegetables
       Fruits

•  salt reduction

        Half teaspoonful (2.5 g)per day. 
        avoiding fast and processed foods

• Exercise 

      climb the staircase
      yoga
      Suryanamaskar

Patient is given 6 months to improve the lifestyle and it will certainly normalise the BP. 



The spill over effect is the feeling of being in control of life situation.This will result in a healthy and positive attitude.


High BP should be considered as an opportunity.


P.S.

Nobody is interested. Nobody has the time 

Doctors start the treatment and patients happily accept it

Once the drug is started, patient does not want to stop it and the life goes on. 


Whose B.P. is it anyway?