Posted by Ershively

What's the best way to handle this problem?
For some people, the act of having their blood
pressure checked causes anxiety that raises
their blood pressure. This can happen as a conditioned
reflex even when they check their own blood pressure
privately. Consequently, the person habitually
registers deceptively high readings. I say "deceptive"
assuming that their actual blood pressure, when their
heart isn't pounding, must be lower.

Would beta blockers break this cycle? Or is it true
that the nervous system eventually compensates
for the blocked messages and increases the adrenalin
output?

Curious in Columbus . . .

Ershively@aol.com

Follow Ups:

• Re: white coat hypertension - What's the best way to handle this problem? Gail Leslie
  • Re: white coat hypertension - What's the best way to handle this problem? Gail Leslie
• Is this "white coat" hypertension really that common? steinmyr
  • White coat hypertension is a well-observed, well-documented, well-published cause for increased Blood Pressures Rod Sparks, MD
• Re: white coat hypertension - What's the best way to handle this problem? silli
• Even if a diagnosis is made, every effort really should be made to control blood pressure with dietary management first instead of medications. Patrick V. Suglia
  • Re: Even if a diagnosis is made, every effort really should be made to control blood pressure with dietary management first instead of medications. P McCauley

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