Already crossing the threshold of the clinic, you feel uncomfortable, and in the queue to the office - as before the exam: your palms are sweating, your stomach is cramped, and when the doctor invites you to come in, your blood pressure surges. You probably have white coat syndrome.

The white coat syndrome is not a disease. This phenomenon is a reaction of the psyche to contact with medical personnel; it occurs in people who are afraid of a doctor's appointment or medical procedures, more often in stressed, anxious patients, with a high level of anxiety. It is most often manifested by a sudden increase in blood pressure, and may be accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, feeling hot and anxious, abdominal pain, nausea and even fainting.

How white coat syndrome develops

The anxiety we feel about a visit to the doctor is justified if we are facing a painful procedure or awaiting important test results and diagnosis. Everyone is afraid of pain, and it is completely natural to worry about he alth. The prospect of talking about embarrassing, intimate he alth problems can also raise the pressure. It may also be important to be aware that the doctor does not have much time for us and we will have to summarize it - rush, as you know, usually generates stress.

The characteristic feature of the white coat syndrome is, however, that it occurs in people suffering from it practically in every situation when they have contact with he alth services, even when they only ask for a prescription or a certificate. This is how the subconscious works, provoking a "learned" reaction, for example in childhood, when we came for an injection, a blood donation or we had to stay in the hospital for surgery, which is an almost traumatic experience for a child. And although we are no longer children, even the very smell of disinfectants in the hallway of the clinic can cause anxiety and a sense of loss of control.

What the statistics say

The white coat syndrome may affect up to 20% of adult patients, as well as up to 45% of children and adolescents diagnosed with high blood pressure. This phenomenon is more common in women than in men, and more often when the patient is in contact with a doctor than with another member of the medical staff, e.g. a nurse or a physiotherapist.

White coat syndrome or hypertension?

Sudden repeating induring subsequent medical visits, an increase in blood pressure to values ​​above the norm may be misleading, suggesting a hypertensive disease. But the white coat effect can be easily distinguished from hypertension - specialists recommend that patients measure their blood pressure regularly at home (eg 3 times a day); If, during home measurements, it does not deviate from the norm, and elevated values ​​appear only in the office, most likely we are dealing with the white coat effect. In cases where the patient is unable to self-measure, doctors order the so-called Pressure recorder. The device measures the pressure at fixed intervals around the clock. During the test, the patient is at home and performs daily activities, therefore the measurement is reliable (the patient notes down situations that may affect pressure fluctuations, e.g. physical exertion, stressful conversation, etc.).

How to relieve white coat syndrome

There are no medications for white coat syndrome. But if the patient is aware of their problem, they can try to moderate the body's response. It is crucial to relax before putting on the blood pressure cuff - it is worth informing the medical staff about the phenomenon so that they give us enough time to calm down. An effective way to relax can be breathing exercises, meditation or trying to move your thoughts beyond the boundaries of the office, e.g. recalling nice memories.

The way the doctor relates to him also has a significant impact on the patient's reaction and well-being in the office. When, for example, at the beginning of the visit, the doctor gets up and greets the patient in a friendly way, this gesture may reduce his anxiety and tension at the very beginning. An interview conducted in an empathetic, non-binding way may restore the patient's sense of security so that the blood pressure measurement taken during the visit will be reliable.

Category:

Psychology