Hypertension Misdiagnoses Are Common
From Associated Press
NEW YORK —
It may be more important than ever to eat an apple a day to keep the doctor away.
A recent study cites white coat hypertension, a term coined for people whose blood pressure rises in the presence of a doctor.
Such occurrences can cause misdiagnosis for as many as 1-in-5 patients. According to the study, as many as 20% of patients treated for hypertension may be receiving unnecessary medication.
Many doctors fear the side effects of medications aiming to lower blood pressure may be too dangerous for the borderline patient.
