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Blood pressure readings Why higher at home

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My blood pressure measurements at home are always higher than at my doctor s office Am I doing something wrong

Answer From Fouad Chebib. M.D. Blood pressure measurements that are higher at your home than at your doctor's office could be caused by an error in measuring your blood pressure at home or a decrease in your stress level at your doctor's office. Having lower blood pressure measurements at the doctor's office than at home is called masked hypertension. Masked hypertension can occur if a calm, quiet environment at your doctor's office is less stressful than your home environment. Use of alcohol, caffeine or cigarettes at home can also increase blood pressure. However, some people feel more stress and anxiety when visiting the doctor. Having higher blood pressure at your doctor's office than at your home is called white-coat hypertension. Be sure that your home blood pressure monitor is accurate and that you're using the correct technique. If you're not sure, ask your doctor. He or she may ask you to bring the home blood pressure monitor to the office. You may measure your blood pressure in one arm with the home monitor while your doctor measures your blood pressure in the other arm with the office equipment. Some people consistently get different blood pressure readings outside the doctor's office - even when blood pressure is measured correctly and repeatedly. If your home blood pressure readings are accurate and consistently higher than those at your doctor's office, you might be at risk for a heart attack or stroke. Your doctor will likely manage your blood pressure based on the higher readings. With Fouad Chebib. M.D. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.

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Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure?Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern? ShareTweet April 22, 2021 Show references Monitoring your blood pressure at home. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings/monitoring-your-blood-pressure-at-home#. Accessed Jan. 18, 2021. Basile J, et al. Overview of hypertension in adults. https://www.uptodate.com/search/contents. Accessed Jan. 18, 2021. Whelton PK, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA/PCNA Guideline for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. Hypertension. 2018; doi:10.1161/HYP.0000000000000065. Cuspidi C, et al. When office blood pressure is not enough: The case of masked hypertension. American Journal of Hypertension. 2019; doi:10.1093/ajh/hpy183. See more Expert Answers

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Blood pressure readings Why higher at home? Mayo Clinic