'White coat hypertension'

Ebony, June, 2004

Q I get regular checkups, but am concerned about my blood pressure. At home, the pressure's fine, but at the doctor's office it's elevated. What's going on?

K.S., Los Angeles

A You are describing a condition called "white coat hypertension." Stress is one factor that causes blood pressure to rise, and going to the doctor's office is stressful for many people because they often anticipate the worst.

Usually when the stress disappears, the blood pressure returns to the lower levels that you get during your home monitoring. There is a theory that temporary high blood pressure can lead to a permanent high blood pressure, but doctors say that theory hasn't been proven.