Hello Doctor,
I was hoping to get a second opinion. My doctor is recommending that I start taking medication for high blood pressure, but I’m not sure if it’s necessary. Most of the time, my systolic pressure is below 140 and my diastolic is usually around 80. The readings tend to go up when I’m at the hospital, but they’re lower when I’m at home or even after I exercise. I’m just wondering if starting medication is the right move at this stage.
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out Dr. Galen, Please find the below response to your query.
1. Based on what you've shared, it sounds like you may be experiencing "white coat hypertension," where blood pressure is elevated in clinical settings but normal at home. In such cases, starting medication right away may not always be necessary.
2. To get a clearer picture, I recommend doing 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (Holter BP monitoring). This test measures your blood pressure throughout the day and night during your normal activities and can help confirm whether treatment is needed.
Thanks
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