Blood Pressure?

[casportpony]

Mine usually runs about 117/75.

I had a dentist appointment last Wednesday and I have a HUMONGOUS fear of dentists that ramps up my anxiety. They take your BP at each visit and in the past my BP has been up over 170/100 on several occasions there. So there I am in the waiting room practicing my breathing exercises...in breath for 5 seconds, hold 2 seconds, then out for 5 seconds, in...out...over and over.... They call me in and I'm not even listening to the "how are you today" banter still concentrating on my breathing as I sat in the chair. Out comes the BP checker, the lady puts it on my arm and amazingly I am not that stressed. I didn't even want to look when it finished, but I was proud of myself, it was only 129/78! That is amazing considering my anxiety over dentristry.

Oh and I didn't have any cavities!!

Good job with the breathing exercises! I might have to try that! I got a little "white coat disease" too.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I just learned how to take manual blood pressures last week, and I think mine was in the 110s over 78 or so. I should compare it with the automatic sphygmomanometer and see how off I am.

Also yes I just wanted to say that word

 

[TwoCrows]

Good job with the breathing exercises! I might have to try that! I got a little "white coat disease" too.

Improper breathing stresses the body which ramps up our anxiety even more. Its so important to always breathe more deeply, its easy to sniff air all day long, especially during times of stress. Try it, it definitely helps relax you and your BP!

 

[Sally PB]

Re: breathing. Someone described it to me like filling a bucket of water. You can't just fill the top third of the bucket. You have to fill it from bottom to top.

Singing is a great breathing exercise. Not the "la-la-la so no one will hear you" stuff, the "belt it out because you don't care who hears you" stuff.

Singing is also great for your mood and your BP.

 

[sourland]

Good job with the breathing exercises! I might have to try that! I got a little "white coat disease" too.

Really like my dentist - really dislike my dental hygienist .

 

[casportpony]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...-answers/white-coat-hypertension/faq-20057792
White coat hypertension: When blood pressure rises in a medical setting
"Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
You could have white coat hypertension. This means your blood pressure is higher at a healthcare professional's office than in other settings, such as at home. It's called white coat hypertension because people who measure blood pressure sometimes wear white coats.

The stress of a health checkup may be the cause of white coat hypertension. It was once thought that if blood pressure goes up during a medical appointment but drops after, the change isn't a concern.

But some healthcare professionals now think that white coat hypertension can be a concern. It might raise the risk of getting long-term high blood pressure. People with white coat hypertension also might have a higher risk of heart or blood vessel disease and organ damage, compared with people who have steady, ideal blood pressure.

The same might be true for people who have masked hypertension. That means their blood pressure is OK at the healthcare professional's office, but it can go up when checked in other places. It's thought that even these temporary rises in blood pressure could turn into a long-term health concern.

If you have white coat hypertension, talk to your healthcare team about watching your condition at home. They might ask you to wear a device, such as an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, to track your blood pressure for up to 24 hours. This measures blood pressure during activity and at rest. Checking your blood pressure at home can help your healthcare team learn if your high blood pressure needs treatment.

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D."

 

[Molpet]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...-answers/white-coat-hypertension/faq-20057792
White coat hypertension: When blood pressure rises in a medical setting
"Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
You could have white coat hypertension. This means your blood pressure is higher at a healthcare professional's office than in other settings, such as at home. It's called white coat hypertension because people who measure blood pressure sometimes wear white coats.

The stress of a health checkup may be the cause of white coat hypertension. It was once thought that if blood pressure goes up during a medical appointment but drops after, the change isn't a concern.

But some healthcare professionals now think that white coat hypertension can be a concern. It might raise the risk of getting long-term high blood pressure. People with white coat hypertension also might have a higher risk of heart or blood vessel disease and organ damage, compared with people who have steady, ideal blood pressure.

The same might be true for people who have masked hypertension. That means their blood pressure is OK at the healthcare professional's office, but it can go up when checked in other places. It's thought that even these temporary rises in blood pressure could turn into a long-term health concern.

If you have white coat hypertension, talk to your healthcare team about watching your condition at home. They might ask you to wear a device, such as an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, to track your blood pressure for up to 24 hours. This measures blood pressure during activity and at rest. Checking your blood pressure at home can help your healthcare team learn if your high blood pressure needs treatment.

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D."

Well great!!! Another thing to stress about

 

[azurbanclucker]

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...-answers/white-coat-hypertension/faq-20057792
White coat hypertension: When blood pressure rises in a medical setting
"Answer From Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D.
You could have white coat hypertension. This means your blood pressure is higher at a healthcare professional's office than in other settings, such as at home. It's called white coat hypertension because people who measure blood pressure sometimes wear white coats.

The stress of a health checkup may be the cause of white coat hypertension. It was once thought that if blood pressure goes up during a medical appointment but drops after, the change isn't a concern.

But some healthcare professionals now think that white coat hypertension can be a concern. It might raise the risk of getting long-term high blood pressure. People with white coat hypertension also might have a higher risk of heart or blood vessel disease and organ damage, compared with people who have steady, ideal blood pressure.

The same might be true for people who have masked hypertension. That means their blood pressure is OK at the healthcare professional's office, but it can go up when checked in other places. It's thought that even these temporary rises in blood pressure could turn into a long-term health concern.

If you have white coat hypertension, talk to your healthcare team about watching your condition at home. They might ask you to wear a device, such as an ambulatory blood pressure monitor, to track your blood pressure for up to 24 hours. This measures blood pressure during activity and at rest. Checking your blood pressure at home can help your healthcare team learn if your high blood pressure needs treatment.

With

Francisco Lopez-Jimenez, M.D."

AKA "White labcoat syndrome". I get checked 3x per visit, because I'm always high the first one, and then I can have 2 that are relatively normal after 10 moinutes or so.

 

[Bawkbok]

I agree with TwoCrows on the breathing. Hard to do when one has their mouth pried open for over an hour while an endodontist is performing a root canal. I thought my heart was going to pump out of my chest. Had one last year and STILL having problems with my jaw as a result. In chronic pain. I avoid any dentist at all cost now. They terrify me.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Had to drive on an interstate highway under construction in the dark this morning to get blood work... I haven't driven in the dark since 2020. BP was 150 over 90
Usually it's under 120

Mine is always high when I go to the Dr (white coat syndrome). My Dr had me buy the recommended blood pressure cuff and record my readings twice a day for 2 weeks, which was in the normal range.