White Coat Hypertension Tip

White Coat Hypertension is the phenomenon by which some people have an elevated blood pressure when visiting their physician.  These patients do not need treatment for hypertension, whereas people who have elevated blood pressure whether they are in or out of the doctors office need to be treated to lower their blood pressure to normal levels in order to reduce risk of heart attack and stroke.

The instructor of the Restorative Yoga class that I attend gave an interesting tip.  She has white coat hypertension.  She comes to her doctors' appointments early and will meditate in the waiting room.  This way, by the time she is called back to see the doctor, she is relaxed, and when she does this she typically will have a normal blood pressure.

When she told the story initially, she relayed it as if a doctor wouldn't like that she does this.  I think it's a terrific idea, and so I'm sharing it!