Does Getting Your Blood Pressure
Taken Make You Anxious?

Does getting your blood pressure taken at the doctor's office make you anxious? Studies suggest that you're in good company. Research indicates that 10%-20% of patients may experience "white-coat syndrome."

"White-coat syndrome" refers to the situation in which the blood pressure measured in a physician's office is consistently higher than when the patient measures it at home. The name comes from the fact that you experience  anxiety and thus higher blood pressure when you see the doctor's white coat.

In an article published in the British Medical Journal, Dr. Little and colleagues found that systolic pressure readings made by doctors were much higher (almost 20 points) than in non-clinical settings. Systolic pressure was deemed more consistent when the readings were not taken in a clinical setting.

Overall, taking readings at home performed significantly better than all other methods and was also preferred best by patients, the researchers found.

Consider the following three areas when looking at how to take back control of anxiety when getting your blood pressure taken.

1) Avoid Things that Interfere with Accurate Test Results
Make sure that your feet are not sitting on the exam table with your feet dangling, and that you haven't just had a few cups or coffee or a cigarette before your appointment.

The bottom line is that you need a history of true resting readings before diagnosing hypertension (high blood pressure) and these things can interfere with getting a true resting reading.

2) Partner with your Doctor
Remember, the doctor is on YOUR team. BOTH of you have a say in how things go, not only the doctor. You are an equal partner and what you want matters too. After all, it's your body! Work with your doctor to create an effective strategy to obtain accurate results.

Tell your doctor that you get nervous at the physician's office and that you think that is the reason you might be testing high. Consider asking to wear a 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitor. The monitor will periodically measure and record your blood pressure outside the physician's office so that you and your doctor can see if your ratings are consistently high or if it's simply an effect of anxiety (white coat syndrome).

Another option is to get a home blood pressure monitor. Ask your doctor to check your home blood pressure monitor. If it is accurate, it could be used to document your out-of-office blood pressure levels.

If high blood pressure readings are due to white-coat syndrome, then doctors can rely on the home assessments instead of the clinical ones to make decisions.

3) Change your Inner Game
Investigate the self-sabotaging thoughts that are fueling your fear of getting your blood pressure taken at the doctor's office, or even THINKING about getting it taken.

Did you have a panic attack once while getting your blood pressure taken and you're afraid it's going to happen again? Do you feel that you won't have control over your treatment plan if you do in fact have consistent high blood pressure? Are you anxious because being around authority figures, including doctors, triggers anxiety?

Figuring out what the self-sabotaging thoughts and beliefs are gives you the power to do something about them. If you need help unlocking the thoughts and getting past the fear, get help. Take charge using anxiety reduction techniques like those in our Conquer Anxiety Success Program. 

About Deanne

Deanne Repich - Founder and director of the National Institute of Anxiety and Stress, Inc., is an internationally renowned anxiety educator, teacher, author, and former sufferer who has helped tens of thousands of anxiety sufferers in more than 40 countries to reclaim their lives from anxiety, stress, anxiety disorders, panic attacks, anxiety attacks and social anxiety.

She is the creator of the Conquer Anxiety Success Program, author of more than one hundred articles, and publisher of the Anxiety-Free Living printed Newsletter for anxiety sufferers. She is a Member of Mental Health America and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America.