I have low blood pressure. In college when I tried to donate blood first time first BP reading was too low. The nurse sent me to the “reject corner”, assured me that the next reading was higher… and it was. Too bad we can’t think of an action that would do the opposite.
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I always do 4-7-8 breathing otherwise my pressure is way higher than normal. I also can’t have my BP taken before a blood draw. I hate having my blood drawn and am always nervous.
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You have my sympathy. My bp has been up at nearly every appointment since my mom ( my mom, not me!) was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago.
It was high at my annual obgyn appointment so I asked them to take it again before I left. It went down somewhat. When I got home, I rushed into to take it because I was annoyed about my high number in the office and it had gone a little higher. I waited five minutes and it was back to normal.
Despite losing weight and exercising, mine is higher than it used to be, but I feel better when it’s around normal versus being too much lower.
I have white coat syndrome. I take medication for hypertension. I take my bp most days, and then bring in printouts from the app (Omron) for the doctor to see. The directions are to sit quietly for a period of time before taking the bp. Who gets to do that before the bp gets taken in the doctor’s office?
I don’t get bp taken before blood draws.
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I also have white coat syndrome, in part due to some very negative experiences with several doctors and I tend to feel quite anxious at all medical appointments these days. My current PCP isn’t helping things. He’s set on increasing meds until my systolic reading is consistently below 120, which I am dead set against him doing. Relatives have been over medicated for hypertension and fainted as a result, with some bad consequences. I’ve fallen twice in the last year. When I can’t exercise and am still stress eating, of course my BP goes up.
I never thought I’d miss the PCP we had in our former location, particularly after he unmasked during our appointments in 2020/2021, but right now I’d prefer him to what we’ve got.
If you like beets they also lower blood pressure. Maybe have some for lunch before your appointment? Also be sure to drink plenty of water.
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DASH Diet is often recommended for reducing high blood pressure. DASH diet to lower high blood pressure: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Drink plenty of water! No tea or other caffeine before the appointment. Sit straight (but relaxed) with both feet on the ground and arms bent at the elbow on the table (or chair arms) for 5 minutes before BP is taken. That is what the local research U med school recommends.
I usually think of something soothing… kittens or puppies are good. I recall one of our professors teaching a very challenging class always added a photo or two of puppies and kittens on the front page of the exam packet. At least for me, it worked! 
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A full bladder also contributes to increased BP. So go to the bathroom first!
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I would get a blood pressure monitor and take it at home regularly like others have recommended. If it indeed is white coat syndrome you’ll be fine but you should not assume it’s not high at other times.
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Yes. I was told it was “white coat syndrome” for many years. Except that my BP was slowly creeping up over the years. When I was finally diagnosed with hypertension, my kidneys already had a small amount of damage that I need to watch closely. It’s called the “silent killer” for a reason.
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I’m sorry to hear this…sounds frustrating. I’m not saying this is the case for your doc, but there are medical practices in which the doc is incentivized to keep certain parameters in his/her patient panel within particular ranges. Of course it seems like a good idea to align a physician’s performance with the health of his/her patients, but in practice, it could lead to “treating a number” depending on the situation.
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The PA at my PCP’s office used to work for a cardiologist. She said that it’s not uncommon for fainting to occur when patients are prescribed bp meds … but also that it means that they are overmedicated. When H’s PCP suggested bp meds, he told her to hold off. He went to a cardiologist, who did a complete work up. Cardiologist said no meds needed … but if they are down the road, H will rely on the cardiologist to prescribe & monitor.
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I do a quick 30 sec yoga type relaxation exercise before they take my blood pressure. It seems to work since I’m always in the acceptable range.
I used to have an eye doctor who took his patient’s blood pressure. He said a lot of people don’t go to doctors regularly and he’d caught quite a few people who needed to be checked out.
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My BP is always high at medical appointments. I’m quite nervous no matter what.
Apologies for my previous answer(s) which probably didn’t apply - I assumed “white coat syndrome” was just getting overly nervous/stressed for/at doctor appointments. I looked it up - didn’t realize it has to do specifically with blood pressure!
“ You could have white coat hypertension. This condition occurs when blood pressure readings at a health care provider’s office are higher than they are in other settings, such as at home . It’s called white coat hypertension because people who measure blood pressure sometimes wear white coats.”
At my last primary care visit my blood pressure was so low they were asking me repeatedly if I was dizzy or anything. I have always had a “low” blood pressure though over the years it seems to have risen to what is considered normal.
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My eye doctor also takes my blood pressure. She said that high blood pressure and eye issues are related, so she considers it an important part of her exam.
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Agree though at the time I was in college so I thought it was odd.
Fortunately mine, every other time, is normal.
And that’s with being told to go ahead and add more salt to my food by my cardiologist due to other issues with headaches caused by not enough salt. It was horrible when I tried to eat super healthy. It took a couple stops at McD’s to clue me into salt being a solution, then that was confirmed by the doctor. He tells me that tends to be genetic (and not uncommon), but they tell “everyone” to reduce salt because it helps more people.
There’s nothing different about taking my BP at the doctor’s office than there was at the blood draw (a health event for school, which is why BP was included). That’s what causes my head to spin going WTH? Why does my body still get so stressed out for doctor visits when it doesn’t for these other things?
It learned to do that I suppose.
Same here
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