White Coat Syndrome and Stroke
 

After a stroke, it is common to cry at incidents which formerly would have had a minimal emotional effect. Similarly, after a stroke, laughter can act in the same way, becoming excessive at times.
I recently experienced something I think is related to this after stroke phenomenon.
I visited my cardiologist yesterday and got my blood pressure checked. It was terribly high – 210/110. I had taken it at home the night before and it was normal – 112/70. As a matter of fact, over the preceeding month (taken 8 times), it averaged 115/69). On a previous visit to my doctor(about a year ago), the same thing happened, excessively high bp. On this occaison, the doctor admitted me to the hospital due to his concern over my bp. Three days later I was discharged after undergoing various tests (which revealed no abnormality).
I think these two incidents were the result of White Coat Syndrome (WCS) which, although not uncommon, was exascerbated due to the stroke in a manner similar to the (emtional)crying and excessive laughter.
Thinking back to earlier (post stroke)doctor visits, the doctor was always concerned with my bp and prescribed various medications(some of which resulted in anaphylactic reactions – which are common in some people).
I think the lesson to be learned from this, is to view bp measurements taken at your doctor’s office with a critical eye. Otherwise, you may get prescribed unnecessary medication. Of course, the bp prescription might still be necessary if there are too many incidents throughout the normal day with anxiety induced high bp.:D :D :D

I completely agree about White Coat Syndrome. My daughter (who had a stroke at birth) has it. Her heart rate and BP SOAR whenever she sees anyone in a white coat with a stethiscope.

HI Rowland & Kam,
I was re-reading your posts and where Rowland talked about crying and laughing, it struck me that we have all heard folks say **** I just need to have a good cry, and every thing will be back in perspective. Well , following Nanc's stroke in 10/01, we were amazed to find****she can no longer cry. Quite upsetting for her to deal with that issue. Not that she was a constant crier, but on occasions it did help to clear the air.

Oh, what strange bodies we have and how differently they react to so many things.

Kam, if you don't keep an eagle eye on that little redhead, Nanc will finally get the ""Redheaded ""grandchild she always wanted.

Jim

White Coat Syndrome, HOw do you Fix it?
 

I am wanting to get some information on how to fix White Coat Sysdrome. I think it's causing more problems in the long run because I am never able to produce a good level of BP to any Doctor or Nurse. They all want to medicate so quickly. When I check it at the drug store and such Just Fine! Any help or Suggestions?:confused:

To satisly myself about my bp, I monitored it at home once a day for about 6 months and I found it to be near 130/80 most of the time. Other than that, the only time my bp is monitored on a consistant basis is if I am a hospital patient.

Under those circumstances it tends to be high. The most common reason I wind up as a hospital patient is severe migraine, a chronic condition which sends my bp throught the roof. I am almost always discharged with instructions to see my primary about my bp but once I am out of the hospital and feeling ok, the bp normalizes.

Hi Helen....

I suffered with migraine type headaches from the age of 19. I used to tell the doctor's about the headaches, but never went while I was having one. I let that go on for some 25 years.

It was my sane sister who called me an idiot and told me to go to the emergency room while this was happening, so someone could see how bad they were. I took her advice.

I didn't know if anyone else had the same types of things happening to them, as me. I always had the pain on the same side, the right. But, the opposite side would droop. What surprised me was my elevated blood pressure. 176/117. The nurse looked a little surprised and said it was probably due to pain.

They gave me morphine, aahhh. No more pain! :D They never did a CT scan. After that, I monitored my pressure. It stayed high. I had the CVA.
I didn't have a headache then. Weird. But, I had been having vertigo spells and chills in my head...numbing of my chin area.