28 year old man on Hydrochlorothiazide?

spikechu,

There is a well known phenomenon called the "white coat syndrome", where a patient's blood pressure will be elevated every time it is taken in the doctor's office, but not at other times.

This is why most physicians will order a 10 blood pressure check before placing a patient on medicine. Especially in young patients with no reasons to have an elevated BP.


In the 10 day check, the patient goes to a pharmacy, mall, fire station, etc, where ever he can get his BP checked. The BP should be check twice a day, if possible, about the same time each day. Also, the patient needs to not just rush in and have the test done. He should take time to allow his pulse to come down to normal and he should not feel stressed or rushed.

Then, the patient takes the 10 day BP chart into the physician. This will give the physician a much better look at what the patient's BP actually is. It can show absolute numbers, and also trends.


So, for a young patient, who is physically fit and not overweight, I would get the 10 day check before even considering medication. You do not have to have a doctor's order to do the check, just do it and write down the results.

Good luck.