Blood Pressure Phobia

BP is a weird thing, and you can raise it by just thinking about it.
So relax, and try to stay stress free.
That will help to keep it down.

I have a monitor and my pressure goes up and down like a yoyo.
I had BP at stroke level in hospital last year, and did get a bit of a shock!!
I had to take my monitor to the doctor's to get it checked and calibrated and it was spot on, so the readings were accurate.

I can take readings 10 minutes apart and the are totally different. I don't stress about it any more, I just record it and show my GP the readings when I see him.Initially he thought it was White coat syndrome when he took it, despite me saying it was always like that.
It turns out I had an undiagnosed heart condition and my extremely high BP , exacerbated by my RA drugs, has caused a fair bit of damage to the micro blood vessels in my heart. .

GPs usually take average readings over a week and don't rely on just a few.
If you are worried, why not have a chat with your GP?

After DHs first stroke he was told “Take your BP three times and pick the one you like the best”.
He was also told by a GP that he had White Coat Syndrome when his readings were sky high. Then he had a major stroke. I think the moral is BP readings are unreliable.

If you were taking your BP again because you were stressed the first reading wasn't correct - then it would be higher because you were worried about it.

I would sit down quietly and watch a bit of TV, then calmly take the BP. Write down the result and forget about it. Do it at about the same time each day. Get used to the process of taking it and maybe it will just become a normal thing to do and won't cause you to worry so much.

There really isn't any way to take it "wrongly" so don't imagine you are doing that.

Advice to me has been to take an average over a week. If it goes up and stays there then medical advice definitely needed. Try not to focus on it as up it will go.

I am like you, I do have a monitor but never use it because I’m scared of the results. Even thinking about taking it out of the cupboard, I feel my stress levels rising!

If I do take it, the first reading will be ridiculously high, and by the time I’ve taken it about five times, it will be in the region of normal.

I was meant to have a medical recently for an insurance policy, but I wouldn’t have it, because I was terrified of a high reading.

After the last set of a weeks readings I relaxed and, just for a laugh and because I wasn't recording it, I tried again. BP was 111/66! Previously it had been up to 160+. Actually I think these fluctuations are a bit worrying though.

I was beginning to think my machine was faulty too as my readings were perfect at home and high in the surgery and so my doctor suggested taking my machine to the surgery and both doing it .Lo and behold both readings were high but not identical.His was higher than mine .I wonder how many people are put on BP medication when it is high only because of white coat syndrome.

Just the way the cuff inflates suddenly makes your blood pressure shoot up.

Ehat I do with my home monitor is to sit at the kitchen table with an inmteresting book in front of me. I put on the cuff and attach the tube for the inflation, but I don't press the button to inflate and measure. Instead, I sit there and read for ten minutes or so. Then I quietly press the button and go back to my book - and read some more while it goes through its routine. By the time I look at the result, it has done the inflation bit, and measured my blood pressure while I was absorbed in the story, instead of when I was shocked by the sudden pressure and was watching the whole performance getting more and more wound up.

Much more relaxed, and a much more normal reading.

Ehat? Should be What.

Greenfinch I have white coat syndrome even though I'm on 3 different BP tablets! Seriously thanks for all your input it helps not to overdramatise I can see BP goes up and down and this was confirmed by a 24hr monitor. Perhaps I need a permanent 24hr monitor!

Thanks Elegran will try that as well!

elegran has given good advice. My DH has high (very) BP and he has been told when using his home BP monitor to sit quietly for at least 15 minutes before taking it. To have your arm at the right angle and relax whilst the reading takes place. He also takes 5 separate readings and records the average of the five as being more accurate than any one reading.
Others are right, thinking about it will make it worse. Try reading a book like elegran suggested.

A bit like Elegran, I have to use distraction. I sit in a chair outside or indoors in the window with the sun on my face. I have the cuff already fitted and when I feel myself almost nodding off I hit the button. In any other circumstances my readings are high.

I have had high readings in the doctors and hospital but at home totally in the normal range
As soon as it start tightening I stress I can feel my mind thinking what if it doesn’t stop but at home I ve just got into the habit of shutting my eyes and taking some breaths count six in six out and it seems to work so guess I ve got white coat syndrome too

It’s a relief to read this thread and realise I’m not alone. I’ve given up taking my BP at home. Due for a check up with my new GP, and already nervous about the BP!

I had pre eclampsia with both my children and I think that triggered off a bit of a phobia about blood pressure. I'm always ridiculously high whenever I'm in a GP's surgery and he knows this now. (I have no idea why he takes it!) I have a notebook app on my phone which I record my BP at home on random occassions and they are always absolutely fine. But I always take my BP when I've been sitting watching tv or relaxing with a book. I show this to the GP if I ever visit and he seems happy with that. I don't think anyone is ever put on BP medication on the strength of readings from a couple of GP visits. My sister had a BP machine she took home with her from the GP and had to wear it for about 48 hours. The readings were available for the GP to review. It must be in our genes, as hers was relatively normal when at home, so wasn't prescribed any medication at this point. I took my monitor to the local branch of Lloyds chemist once as I was convinced it wasnt giving accurate readings. The assistant was so kind and took her own BP using my monitor and the shop one and they were literally the same. Maybe trying something that might put your mind at rest BlueSky

Icheck my BP every day for a week at home before my GP appointment, because as soon as I walk into the Surgery I develop "white coat syndrome".

Sara65 I could have written your post! I have a terrible fear of the BP machine. If I even hear the words blood pressure, I go to pieces. Ridiculous but I can't help it.

You've all made me feel better (as usual) and that it's not just me.

KatyK

You have made me feel better as well!

Home medics. Anyone can turn into a quivering wreck if they continuously take and re-take their BP, anxious that the first wasn't correct.
It used to be that Lloyd's pharmacy would allow walk-ins and do two readings for you on the same visit.
They asked you to be still and calm, not having rushed about before the visit and gave you a form afterwards on which your name address phone number height weight age and 2 BP readings were recorded.
Not enough staff now so that's all stopped.
A friend used to go there monthly instead of her doctor as she had no ailments.

It's not surprising, for those who have been issued with monitors to take their own BP, to read a higher level the second time, however, it could become a self-defeating action.

I was medicated for high blood pressure and was pre-diabetic, largely due to being overweight. After completely overhauling our diet I’m now off the medication completely and my blood sugar is in the normal range. We’ve both lost a lot of weight (over 4st in my case) and sleep better, think more clearly, are fitter, ache less and seem to shrug of bugs.

Sara