Q: My neurologist told me that blood pressure has no relation whatsoever to everyday stress. Yet, the last time I had it taken, I was under lots of stress and it was sky high. After sitting calmly for about 30 minutes, it was taken again and was in normal limits. Is my doctor right, or should I believe my experience shows there is a relationship?

Answer :In fact, one of the most common types of stress that can boost blood-pressure readings comes from sitting in the doctors office; theres even a name for the phenomenon-the white-coat effect. According to the UKs Blood Pressure Association, Your blood pressure is not fixed-it rises and falls throughout the dayin response to what you are doing and what is happening around you. Some people are more prone to the white-coat effect (or other stress- or anxiety-related blood pressure effects); if you are very anxious, your systolic blood pressure can rise by as much as 30 mmHg. As you experienced, sitting quietly for a few minutes or taking a few deep breaths can help bring your blood pressure down to normal. To obtainaccurate readings, some people may need to be tested at home or wear a 24-hour digital blood-pressure monitor.