Blood Pressure White Coat Effect Note

This tool helps you compare your blood pressure readings taken in a clinic versus at home to estimate the "White Coat Effect"—a temporary elevation in blood pressure due to clinical setting anxiety. It's for adults tracking their health, runs entirely offline, and uses mmHg units.

Educational only, not medical advice. For discussion with your healthcare provider.

Enter Your Readings

Clinic Systolic (mmHg)

Top number at clinic

Clinic Diastolic (mmHg)

Bottom number at clinic

Home Systolic (mmHg)

Top number at home

Home Diastolic (mmHg)

Bottom number at home

White Coat Effect Estimate

Systolic Difference (Clinic - Home)

Enter values

Diastolic Difference (Clinic - Home)

Enter values

Discussion Note Preview

Your calculated note will appear here. You can copy it to share with your clinician.

Understanding the White Coat Effect

The "White Coat Effect" is a temporary rise in blood pressure some people experience in medical settings due to anxiety. It can lead to overdiagnosis of hypertension. Tracking both clinical and home readings helps your clinician make more accurate decisions about your care.

How to Use This Tool

Enter your clinic reading from your last appointment.
Enter your average home reading from the same period (take multiple readings over a few days, seated and rested).
Review the differences and the generated discussion note.
Copy the note and bring it to your next appointment.

Example Scenarios

Clinic BP	Home BP	Systolic Effect	Diastolic Effect	Note
142/92	135/84	+7 mmHg	+8 mmHg	Minimal effect, home readings near normal.
155/98	128/82	+27 mmHg	+16 mmHg	Significant systolic effect; home readings normal.

Typical Home Blood Pressure Targets (General Guidance)

Category	Systolic	Diastolic	Note
Normal	< 120 mmHg	< 80 mmHg	Ideal range.
Elevated	120-129	< 80	Monitor lifestyle.
Hypertension Stage 1	130-139	80-89	Discuss with clinician.
Hypertension Stage 2	≥ 140	≥ 90	Requires clinical evaluation.

Measurement Quality Checklist

Check items that applied to your home reading session. This helps assess reliability.

Rested quietly for 5 minutes before reading. Used a validated, properly‑sized cuff. Arm supported at heart level. No talking or moving during measurement. Averaged at least two readings, 1‑2 minutes apart.

Checklist Summary

Check items above. This summary helps you discuss measurement quality with your clinician.

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is this estimate?

It's a simple subtraction. Accuracy depends entirely on the accuracy and consistency of your input readings. Use averaged home readings over several days, not a single measurement.

What if my home reading is higher than the clinic reading?

A negative value suggests "masked hypertension" (normal at clinic, high elsewhere). This is equally important to discuss with your clinician, as it may indicate a need for more thorough monitoring.

When should I seek immediate medical help?

If you experience severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, or have a systolic reading ≥180 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥120 mmHg, seek urgent care. This tool is for routine monitoring, not emergencies.

Formulas & Assumptions

White Coat Effect (Systolic) = Clinic Systolic – Home Systolic

White Coat Effect (Diastolic) = Clinic Diastolic – Home Diastolic

Interpretation bands: Minimal (<10 mmHg), Moderate (10‑20 mmHg), Significant (>20 mmHg). These are based on common clinical literature thresholds for noticeable effect size.

Rounding: to the selected number of decimal places (0, 1, or 2).

Assumes both readings were taken under standard conditions (seated, rested). Differences can also be influenced by time of day, medication, caffeine, etc.

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Blood Pressure White Coat Effect Note

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