Does a patient’s blood pressure rise when visiting a doctor? A YouTube video claims it does, referring to the condition as White Coat Syndrome.  

“The more qualified the doctor, the higher the rise; the more prestigious the hospital, the more expensive the treatment,” says Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, a popular online figure who reportedly has no medical qualification.  

Then it goes on to say that if the blood pressure increases significantly, it may not be the patient’s true resting blood pressure but a reaction to the doctor's presence. “As soon as the patient leaves the hospital, their blood pressure returns to normal. This is known in medical terms as White Coat Syndrome,” he adds. 

Chowdhury, who is popularly known by his initials Dr BRC, further says that studies suggest that nearly 80 per cent of patients currently on medication for high blood pressure may actually be experiencing White Coat Syndrome rather than chronic hypertension. “This means many of them might not need long-term medication, as their high blood pressure is only temporary,” he claims. 

What are the facts? 

Chowdhury is a known proliferator of false health-related claims, from calling Covid and monkeypox 'plandemics,' to offering a three month certification course on 'Intergrated Medicine,' which he claims will "empower you to become your own doctor." 

However, this time, at least parts of what Chowdhury has claimed seems factual. Dr Sameera Ranasinghe, a Doctor in Community Medicine at the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, told First Check that white coat hypertension occurs when a person’s blood pressure (BP) is elevated at the doctor’s office but normal when measured at home or in other settings. “This is often called white coat syndrome,” he said. 

He said that the European Society of Hypertension (ESH) defines white coat hypertension as a clinic BP of 140/90 mmHg or higher while maintaining a 24-hour average BP below 130/80 mmHg. “This updated definition includes nighttime BP, which is a stronger predictor of health risks than daytime BP,” he said. 

However, Chowdhury's claims that about 80 per cent of patients on hypertension medications are suffering from white coat syndrome, seems to be an exaggeration.  

Dr Ranasinghe said that white coat hypertension applies only to those not on BP medication. “For those on treatment, a similar phenomenon called the ‘white coat effect’ occurs, where BP readings are higher at the clinic than at home. This effect is considered significant if the difference exceeds 20/10 mmHg. Therefore, not all treated hypertension patients can be classified as having white coat hypertension." 

“So the video is a classic case of misinformation,” Dr Ranasinghe added, while pointing out that no study has shown that 80 per cent of hypertension patients have white coat hypertension. 

Also read: FACT CHECK: Can cleaning a cowshed cure cancer, and stroking a cow's back lower blood pressure? - First Check