Blood pressure always high when GP checks it

[Frosty66612]

I have a blood pressure monitor that I use at home and my blood pressure is always about 121 over 80. I’ve checked it on my mum’s one too and get the same reading.

Whenever I go to the GP it’s always about 128 over 93. I suffer from anxiety so could this be what causes it to increase when someone else checks it? Does this happen to anyone else?

Hope all was OK in the end

It was, thanks!

My mum’s is always higher at the doc’s too. I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

Oh and yes to sitting quietly beforehand for 5 mins - that helps.

I don't have anxiety. Purely panic when BP is taken in a medical setting.

I have a BP monitor at home and my readings are always fine.

Oddly I'm better with the old fashioned way they take BP, cuff and stethoscope. Hate the electronic ones.

Several things here.

1. Yes. WCS. Mine can go up 30 points s&d

1. I have an expensive one at home. It varies enormously. I take it to the Drs with me. She’s happy to use the readings on there. She says the Lloyds one at £16 is fine too.

1. She told me that everyone’s BP varies A LOT all the time, that’s normal.

1. Most importantly!! you are stressing yourself out about something ridiculous! 128/93 is fine anyway!! The bottom number is a little higher than they like, but it’s still nothing whatsoever to worry about.

They sent me HOME from hospital (after my appendix was removed) with mine at 223/127 😳

Mine is currently ‘high’ averaging about 167/105 but the blood pressure tablets make me really sick (all eleventy billion varieties) and the long term side effects can be as bad (IMO) as HBP. I’m doing everything I can to lower mine naturally. I’d be over the moon if it was 140/98 let alone 128/98.

Stop stressing about it 🌷. Easier said than done with anxiety I know, but try x

I think a lot of blood pressure monitors are inaccurate a lot of medical staff don't know how to use them.

I had my blood pressure taken and it was very high, 2 minutes later she did it again and it was completely normal. I don't know how it can change that much in 2 minutes. I wasn't stressed. My friend is a nurse and she says she doesn't really know how to use it properly and says her nurse friends all say the same thing. She doesn't think they are accurate either.

I have it but only with the machine. If the doctor does it the old fashioned way with his watch, the manual cuff and a stethoscope then it’s actually on the lower end of normal... It’s so bizarre!

I had terrible white coat syndrome when I was younger, I even ended up having tests on my heart and kidneys!

I have that too but I now get stressed taking it at home in case it’s high. As soon as I get the machine out my pulse starts racing and my blood pressure goes up so even twkingit at home is stressful]
My doc always says to take some off my reading to allow for the white coat syndrome

DH has this and explained it to the GP.

That was most obliging of him 😂

I get this. My doctor always retakes it at the end of the visit and it's lower. Oddly, it's always fine at my gynecologist's office. You'd think it would be high there too, but I guess he doesn't make me that nervous. 🤷

I've got wcs, blood pressure was 145/95 at surgery so referred for 24hr monitor to be fitted at hosp. Readings taken by the 24 he monitor show bp 118/77. My home machine shows same as hosp 24 hr monitor. I'm not generally an anxious person but I am now aware that I do start to panic in GP surgery.

I have this problem. I have a severe phobia about anything to do with with doctors. My blood pressure goes through the roof just looking at the blood pressure apparatus.
My doctor sticks the cuff on me and just keeps taking my blood pressure over and over again while distracting me until it drops to a reasonable lesson. The last time it started at 190 over something... but the final reading was 120/70.