Should we get patients to do their own BP readings ? Yes, yes, yes, yes yes ... white coat hypertension is the commonest reason for overtreating patients with medications. Home monitoring stops this problem. Simple to negotiate - if no home readings you get pills okay ? We are just about to buy a $3000 24 hour BP monitor but it will most likely just confirm what we know - which is that snapshot BP office readings are often very misleading. New research is beginning to back this up especially now that inexpensive and practical home monitoring is here to stay (thank you China ...)

I have high blood pressure and use my own monitor (Omron upper arm) to keep track of my blood pressure once a week. The results are entered into an IPad application that also records my weight, pulse and waist measurement. The resulting graphs can be emailed to my computer or to my doctor if needed. This has been particularly valuable in telling me if going on new medication, or going off medication, makes a difference. It also shows over time that as my weight and waist measurements go down, so do my blood pressure readings. A wonderful tool.

I heard one doctor say recently that he'd read that if someone has "white coat" hypertension then they will develope hypertension later on.

I agree totally with white coat syndrome as having recently moved to Australia I was required to have a series of tests for pre -employment and having my blood pressure read was one of them. At the medical centre my BP was 203/109 at its highest ( they tested it 4 times over a 2 hour time frame) I was sent for more tests at another centre, an ECG, blood and urine tests etc. Over a week I read my BP myself and it averaged around the 145/82 range so can only assume the high readings are caused by the stress of the Dr doing the testing. I would also like to say the amazing treatment I have received in Australia I doubt I would have had in NZ under the NZ public system. Two Drs visits, ECG and pathology tests all under medicare at a cost of $25 only to me.

I had a similar experience, and my GP arranged a 24hour BP monitor through the hospital. It showed a normal fluctuation during the day, and nowhere near the readings shown at the surgery. So yes, white coat syndrome! Surprised me because I am not anxious about being at the Drs, But it was well worth doing the monitor because it showed there is no need for medication. And yes some medical practices do lend them out. My GP commented that many people who have previously been put on BP medication possibly don't need it.

i monitor mine regularly and find it is fine - but a bit of white coat fever hits me when at drs. I bought a cheap wrist electronic one and i have a manual upper arm one that I use for work (PT). I have found the cheap one is very accurate. It only cost about $30.

I have used one before, if I didn't I wouldn't have been allowed out of hospital after the birth of my son. My BP wasn't dropping back to the range they expected by my lovely midwife convinced them that it would once I was out of the stressful hospital environment, and right she was. I think in certain circumstances they are definitely a good idea, especially with proper medical backup as well

The other thing to check is the width of the pressure cuff. My BP reading dropped massively when the specialist used a wider cuff. My BP is still in the higher range but nothing like compared to the result when taken with the "normal" narrow cuff.

To Simon, How much is your life worth?

I had this experience. I was at a White Cross Clinic, and an overzealous GP (not my usual GP) was talking about putting me on BP meds when my blood pressure technically was 'borderline' rather than 'high', and I didn't have a history of high blood pressure. Bought an Omron BP monitor (think it was around $100) and recorded readings for a month, which were textbook perfect. My doctor was totally satisfied. If you do it, get a monitor that goes on the upper arm rather than a simple wrist or finger one.