Column: Hypertension Nursing - White coat hypertension

Abstract

White coat hypertension is defined by hypertensive blood pressure in the office, whereas blood pressure in other situations is normal, for example in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring or home blood pressure measurement. The difference between the two blood pressure measurements is referred to as the white coat effect, and is primarily due a positive pressor reaction induced by the clinical visit. Much less known is the opposite condition, normotension white coat or isolated ambulatory hypertension, which is often referred to as masked hypertension. This article discuss about these conditions.