high blood pressure reading

[novaparty12]

I had my blood pressure taken last week for a repeat prescription for HRT patches and it was high 156/78. Last time it was 139/80 so still high but not quite so high. I rush around alot like most people and the only free hour I have to go to the docs or chemist to have it taken is between 230 and 330 between work and the school run. Is it true that bp taken mid afternoon will be much higher than the morning or early evening?? I work part time and have an autistic child and I feel i have very little time to relax so I am always a bit stressed. Because it was slightly high last time I was really nervous about it this this time and when the cuff went on I got really nervous and I felt my heart beat really fast so I wonder if that is why it was so high. I am mid 40's and relatively active and I eat relatively healthily but I am very slightly overweight. I have just ordered a blood pressure monitor so i can take it in the morning and evening but worry that I am going to be stressed about a high reading before taking it that it will be high again. The doctor said if by taking it at home and the readings are consistently high I need to either come off HRT or go on blood pressure medication.

Take it three times in the morning before eating and not after you have immediately sat down. I pulled a hypertensive crisis at the GP office but he knew me well enough to not panic. His eyebrows did disappear up into his hairline though.

It's often referred to as 'white coat syndrome' where you can get nervous sitting down having someone take your bp. I have chronic hypertension. Your reading 156/78 was high but was that the average taken over 3 readings?
Nurse at my gp doesnt bat an eyelid unless mine is over 160/90 for a prolonged period, say consistently for days.