Ever notice that your blood-pressure readings are higher than usual in the doctor’s office? It’s called the “white coat effect.” A new study found that people’s blood pressure rose within sight of a doctor, then dropped sharply when the physician left. An automated device that can take readings in the absence of a doc could offer more accurate data, researchers say. Meanwhile, a separate study showed an association between this sort of blood-pressure rise and a greater risk of microvascular complications (like retinopathy) in people with type 2 diabetes. “White-coat hypertension should not be considered a harmless condition,” the study concludes; further treatment may be needed.
Sources: Archives of Internal Medicine, Dec. 8/22, 2008; Diabetes Care, December 2008