February is American Heart Month
FACTS: White Coat Hypertension
- 20-30% of patients with elevated BP in office are normotensive out of office
- “Should be suspected in any patient with markedly elevated office BP in absence of end-organ damage”
- Can be confirmed with normal home BPs
- Can be minimized by nurse/MA taking BP
- Can be minimized with automatic cuffs, and multiple readings while provider steps out
Factors that can Increase Blood Pressure Readings:
Key Take-Aways:
- Automated home blood pressure cuffs are a helpful tool for managing hypertension
- Many factors can increase blood pressure results. Minimize these factors to ensure accuracy
- Recheck a 2nd blood pressure >139/89