How To Get Rid Of White Coat Syndrome?

This is a curious name for a real problem. In fact, many people have never heard the term applied to the anxiety and increase in blood pressure of white coat syndrome. People experience this blood pressure increase because they fear going to the doctor. Thus, we have the name “white coat” syndrome.

Even if the patient talks with a nurse or one of the doctor’s helpers, the patient may find the blood pressure rising. Some people even feel they are in the early stages of a panic attack. While this is a difficult condition to get rid of, there are some things an individual can do to lessen the effects of this anxiety.

Good Place to Start
The best place to start is with a visit to the doctor to find out if you really suffer from high blood pressure on a chronic basis. Since this may only cause the problem to get worse or may give false results, you might have a friend or family member take your blood pressure. Many of us have a nurse or paramedic in the family who would be willing to do this. Determining if we actually suffer from chronic blood pressure will help us deal with that condition and the increase when we need to visit a medical professional.

Some advice on white coat syndrome suggests drinking less water for several hours before you have to visit the doctor’s office. This may help lower your blood pressure slightly and might prevent a real “attack” when you approach the office. The next step for getting rid of white coat syndrome is probably good advice for life in general. Many people live with anxiety, stress and high blood pressure because they rush around, work too hard, don’t eat properly and submit themselves to disturbing outside influences. You can help lessen the effects of white coat syndrome by listening to some relaxing music (especially on the way to the doctor’s office).

Approach all your activity at a slower pace. Take a few more minutes to eat your meals on the day of a doctor’s visit. Walk more slowly, especially when you approach the door of the office. Concentrate on pleasant thoughts and do what you can to remain calm. Discuss your anxiety and the reality of white coat syndrome with the doctor. Holding the information inside won’t help at all. If the doctor or nurse notices a high blood pressure reading when you visit the office don’t leave without discussing the fact that this only seems to happen when you approach a medical building or visit with someone in the traditional white coat.

Doctors have started to look at this condition as something that isn’t cause for alarm. Some patients have reported that doctors are well aware of how healthy their patients are. The doctor often realizes that high blood pressure readings in his office are not the usual status of the patient. Patients have been able to describe the changes in blood pressure when they approach the office, when they leave the office and when they are at home. The doctor can get a better understanding of the problem if the patient describes it in detail.

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