M. Subrahmanyan1, Satya Prasad Valluri2
White coat hypertension is defined by at least three separate clinic-based measurements. >140/90 mmHg and at least two non-clinic-based measurements. <140/90 mmHg in the absence of any evidence of target organ damage. As much as 20 percent of the population suffers from "white coat syndrome," in which blood pressure surges when measured in the doctor's office. The syndrome produces a challenge for physicians seeking an accurate blood pressure reading. At present, antihypertensive drug therapy is generally not recommended for patients with white coat hypertension, though it is reasonable to recommend appropriate lifestyle modifications aimed at reducing the blood pressure, as well as steps to reduce cardiac risk.
