What is “white coat” hypertension?

  The “white coat” hypertension is when one’s blood pressure is generally normal when measured at home, but once one sees the “white coat” at the hospital, the measured blood pressure value is high due to nervousness and other factors, and this hypertension is generally pseudo. Patients with “white coat” hypertension are often encountered in outpatient clinics. Patients with “white coat” hypertension often take medication as soon as they find their blood pressure is high, and stop taking medication when their blood pressure is not high.  The cause of white coat hypertension is related to the patient’s high state of tension and anxiety. Tension and anxiety can cause these patients to release catecholamines, causing vasoconstriction and increased peripheral vascular resistance, leading to an increase in blood pressure. The incidence of white coat hypertension has been reported to range from 22% to 48%. These patients experience more side effects from antihypertensive treatment and cause unnecessary waste and inconvenience.  Usually doctors will have patients undergo 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure testing and a comprehensive analysis with reference to ECG and other medical conditions can prevent the occurrence of white coat hypertension. Experts believe that home blood pressure monitoring is important for confirming the diagnosis of hypertension, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment, and encouraging patients to comply with medical advice, but inaccurate measurements may lead to misunderstandings. The treatment of such hypertensive patients does not advocate increasing the dose of anti-hypertensive drugs to reduce the rise in their blood pressure, but mainly uses non-pharmacological treatments to guide patients to stabilize their emotions and self-regulate.