Question

What's the meaning of "white coat syndrome"?

Answer 1

Answer: A condition in which a patient's blood pressure readings are higher when taken at the doctor's office compared to other settings, was originally attributed to the anxiety patients might experience during medical appointments.

Answer 2

A great number of individuals present a variation on blood pressure (BP) levels when they are assessed either in the office or in the out-of-office settings. This phenomenon is defined as white coat syndrome – a change in BP levels due to the presence of a physician or other health professional.

Many people have higher blood pressure at medical offices than anywhere else. This is known as white coat hypertension, and it's thought to be caused by the stress of being at the medical office.