Ask Well: White-Coat Hypertension - NYTimes.com

NYTimes.com

 Q.

What do I do about “white-coat hypertension”?

Can someone please talk about “white-coat hypertension” — high or borderline high blood pressure at the clinic but up to 15 to 20 points lower at the discount store, state fair, etc. Is it common? Is it dangerous? What is a good level to aim for (at the clinic, at other places)? How bad does it have to be to need to take medicine for it? How to give the doctor a good picture of the actual situation? I would like to understand this better instead of being lectured.......