Might have high blood pressure

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Went for my smear today and although I'm used too it still fills me with dread she always takes my weight and blood pressure weight has gone up again so need to get that sorted but she checked my blood pressure 3 times and was still high no idea why I know high blood pressure runs in the family could it just be that I was nervous or anxious about my smear etc as that sometimes happens and how can I get I check my blood pressure at home

Are you me? Actually, I think a lot of people experience this. I definitely have "white coat syndrome" - blood pressure going up because I'm in some kind of medical environment. But I also have familial history. A few years ago now I had high blood pressure on a smear test visit. Was told to come back when I was feeling relaxed because my readings were high. However, I knew I would never feel relaxed when I was having my bp checked. I eventually went back some long time later suffering from panic attacks. My GP took my bp. It was pretty high. I ended up having a 24 hour monitor. The results came back severely high the whole time because I was so petrified and didn't sleep. I ended up being referred to the blood pressure unit at my hospital and went quite frequently having anxiety inducing tests like ecg and echocardiogram and blood tests. However, in the end it did become less scary. The nurses who took my bp knew how to relax me. I was started on meds and they found the right dose for me. I'm on 3 types now and feel absolutely fine - no side effects. I was just scared of being diagnosed but now think why?

My sister had high readings like you but went back again and was fine that time. So she's not on meds. But it is incredibly important to get re-tested because there are no symptoms and it can cause a lot of problems over time if it is high. It's very treatable if caught at a reasonable stage. I had another 24 hour monitor some time later, felt chilled this time, was already medicated and my levels were very good.

You can get home BP checking kits. Could you book in for an appointment just to check BP? Then you don't have the fear of a smear altering it?
It doesn't necessarily have to be hereditary, it can be something that just happens.

I am at this moment strapped up to a 24 hour blood pressure monitor. It looks like I have white coat syndrome as most of my readings seem to be ok.

I too have " white coat syndrome" but in the end bought a home monitor as high blood pressure runs in my family. At home I am at the upper limit of normal after sitting down for 10 minutes. I expect at some point I will need medication because even after losing weight and doing more exercise, it hasn't come down. Initially all this made me anxious but good to hear that there is treatment that doesn't cause side effects.