White Coat Syndrome

Today were going to talk about another common anxiety problem, that's also not included in the ranks of the anxiety disorders: it is called "white coat hypertension". Or more commonly, "white coat syndrome".

Described simply, it refers to increased anxiety and anxious symptomatology when one is in a medical setting, resulting in an higher blood pressure. Many people experience it, so if you do too, know that you're not alone.

Both patients and professionals should be aware of this anxious condition, since it actively influences the measure of blood pressure. If you have this syndrome, be sure to let your doctor know, so that he may correctly interpret the results he will collect.

What distinguishes this kind of hypertension from the more constant type is that this one occurs exclusively in medical settings, and not in other contexts such as at home or work, making it a bit trickier to diagnose and address properly. If you experience constant high blood pressure, inform your doctor. The important thing to remember is that high blood pressure, whatever the cause, should always be checked and treated.

White coat syndrome should also be distinguished from Social Anxiety Disorder, in that this anxiety is not caused by social interaction, but by the antecipation of being examined by a doctor. From there derives the name given to it: the anxiety is usually provoked by the presence of people in white coats (doctors, nurses, etc.), or more accurately, by the reactions your mind has when presented with medicine-related stimuli.

If you suffer from this problem, you may want to complement the treatment your doctor prescribes, by trying to find different coping strategies to help you manage your anxiety. Most important of all, don't avoid medical appointments on account of the anxiety you feel... your health comes first, always.

[Plus, on the positive side, exposure to the feared situation (when it is safe to do so) is often one of the best ways to sucessfully desensitize yourself against anxiety. Knowing that may not give a lot of comfort when one is in the midst of the feared situation, but after the anxiety is gone it may.]

Here are some simple coping strategies you may want to try:

- Make use of distraction techniques... these can help you to take your mind off the automatic thoughts that cause you to feel anxious;

- Avoid eating or drinking stimulant foods and drinks, as they have the potential of increasing your anxiety;

- Breath control (more on that soon): breathe slowly, to the count of 3, constantly focusing your mind on the breath, as it flows in... and as it flows out again to the count of 3.