HOW DOCTORS RAISE BLOOD PRESSURE AND NURSES LOWER IT

If your doctor is pushing you to take blood pressure medications based on his/her measurements, it’s a good idea to request a second opinion.

No, not from another doctor but from the nurse.

And, no, we’re not indicating that your doctor is a layer, just that he/she may be the main cause of your high blood pressure, while your nurse could set it right.

The link between doctors and high blood pressure is commonly referred to as ‘white coat effect’. Simply put, patients are generally more apprehensive when examined by the doctor than by nurses. Many studies have researched this issue, but a new study published in the British Journal of General Practice, found some interesting twist to it.

The researchers from University of Exeter Medical School analyzed data from 1019 patients whose blood pressure readings were recorded by doctors as well as nurses at the same time. The results were collected from ten different countries in different settings.

To their surprise blood pressure readings were significantly higher when recorded by doctors than nurses.

But why is this so significant? You see, even a small difference in blood pressure reading can tip the decision in favor of medications. And as we know, medications only mean unnecessary side-effects.

The researchers suggest that doctors can take blood pressure readings during routine checkups. However, when an important decision has to be taken for prescribing medications, it is best that the nurse records the readings.