Is your blood pressure normal at the doctor’s office but rising at home? Dr Gérald Kierzek’s alert on this hidden risk

Previously, your tension rose at the simple sight of a white coat… But recently, it’s the opposite? This means that your real tension, in daily life, “may be underestimated in the office“, warns Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical. Here is what you need to remember on this subject.

Voltage too high at home: be careful!

When blood pressure is normal at the doctor’s office but too high at home, we most often speak of masked hypertension. And in this case be careful! “When your blood pressure is too high outside the office – for example at work, while resting at home or at night – a cardiovascular risk exists and merits evaluation.“, confirms Dr. Gérald Kierzek.

But these significant voltage variations can also be linked “stress, sleep, consumption of salt, alcohol, caffeine, tobacco or even poor measuring technique at home”.

“The key point is that the doctor’s measurement is not always enough, on its own, to judge good blood pressure control”, indicates the medical director of True Medical.

Masked hypertension is therefore the opposite of what is called white coat syndrome, which increases the patient’s tension at the mere sight of the doctor, due to stress.

So, when to worry?

In reality, your blood pressure varies naturally throughout the day, depending on circadian rhythm, physical activity, stress and timing of measurement.

“This is why the same patient can have a correct value in consultation and higher figures at home, especially in the morning or during periods of emotional tension. Home monitoring therefore makes it possible to distinguish true hypertension from a simple contextual effect,” notes the doctor.

How to reduce your tension at home?

The first step is to measure your blood pressure carefully: use a reliable device on your arm, with a cuff of the right size. Sit comfortably (back supported, feet flat), with your arm placed at heart level. Rest five minutes before the measurement, then remain calm, without speaking or moving during the measurement.

“Measurements must be taken at regular times, ideally morning and evening for several days, in order to obtain a reliable average”, specifies Dr Gérald Kierzek.

In terms of healthy living, the most effective measures are often the simplest: eat less salt, lose weight if necessary, move regularly, limit alcohol, stop smoking and try to sleep better. This way, your blood pressure can stabilize and perhaps even lower over time.

Finally, when to consult?

If the measurements taken in consultation are reassuring, but they are regularly above the desired levels at home, the best idea is still to talk to your doctor.

“Because only a medical evaluation will make it possible to confirm masked hypertension, to assess the overall cardiovascular risk and to decide whether it is necessary to initiate treatment or simply to implement close monitoring,”
concludes Dr Gérald Kierzek.