Can medical anxiety really be related to a white coat?

Adam Cohen and Dr. Judith James
·2 min read
3
Increases in blood pressure can have many causes, so it’s important not to shrug off any uptick.
Increases in blood pressure can have many causes, so it’s important not to shrug off any uptick.

Adam’s Journal

I’ve heard that the mere sight of a physician’s white coat can drive up a person’s blood pressure. Is this a real thing? If so, shouldn’t doctors opt for a more casual wardrobe to put patients at ease?

Dr. James Prescribes

Many people can experience anxiety-induced spikes in their blood pressure when visiting their healthcare providers. This phenomenon is commonly known as “white-coat hypertension” or the “white-coat effect.”

Research has shown this effect is real. However, despite the name, there’s no evidence these increases in blood pressure are tied directly to the piece of clothing that describes them.

A 2014 review combined data from 15 studies on the effect involving more than 1,000 patients. On average, patients’ blood pressure rose appreciably — 7 points for the top (systolic) number, almost 4 for the bottom (diastolic) — when the readings were taken by doctors rather than nurses.

Increases in blood pressure can have many causes, so it’s important not to shrug off any uptick. Poorly controlled blood pressure has been linked to an elevated risk of stroke, cardiac disease and a host of other health conditions. Even if you believe a high reading was caused by visiting the doctor (or the traffic you encountered on the way there), treatment may be warranted.

As for doctors’ wardrobes, while some people may prefer their physicians join the world of business casual, others view the white coat as a defining symbol of the medical profession.

A study of patients at 10 academic hospitals found that among those who cared about their healthcare providers’ attire, most preferred their doctors to wear white coats. A survey in JAMA Network Open yielded similar results, finding that physicians in white coats were perceived as significantly more experienced, professional and friendly than those donning fleece or softshell jackets.

Of course, medical care has nothing to do with your care provider’s sartorial choices. Still, patients’ perceptions matter. Even in a world increasingly dominated by athleisure, doctors’ white coats appear here to stay.

James, a physician-scientist, is vice president of clinical affairs at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation. Cohen is a marathoner and OMRF’s senior vice president and general counsel. Submit your health questions to contact@omrf.org.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: The sight of a doctor's white coat may be enough to raise blood pressure