Definition

Noun: A temporary and often anxiety-induced elevation in a person's blood pressure that occurs specifically in a clinical setting, such as a doctor's office, but is not indicative of chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) in their usual daily life.

Usage

This term is used exclusively as a noun in medical and general contexts to describe a specific phenomenon. It is a compound noun, and its meaning is fixed.

Examples

• The patient's high readings at the clinic were attributed to white-coat hypertension, so the doctor recommended 24-hour ambulatory monitoring.
• Studies suggest that white-coat hypertension is quite common and may affect up to 20% of patients.
• To rule out white-coat hypertension, she was asked to measure her blood pressure at home for two weeks.

Advanced Usage

• The term is often used in contrast with terms like "sustained hypertension" or "masked hypertension."
• It can be discussed as a potential risk factor, though it is not considered a formal hypertensive disorder itself.
• The condition is named for the "white coat" traditionally worn by physicians, which can trigger anxiety in some patients.

Variants and Related Words

• White-coat effect: A very similar term, sometimes used interchangeably, though it can more specifically refer to the between office and out-of-office blood pressure readings.
• Isolated clinic hypertension: A more formal, descriptive synonym for white-coat hypertension.

Synonyms

• Isolated clinic hypertension
• Office-induced hypertension

Antonyms

• Sustained hypertension
• Masked hypertension (where blood pressure is normal in the clinic but high elsewhere)

Noun

1. temporary rise in blood pressure in the doctor's office