Totally Mortified - Super High Blood Pressure @ Nursing Physical

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I am so totally embarrassed right now! For the past few years, I get high blood pressure readings when at doctor's offices nearly every time. If I'm in the hospital - it gets even worse because I'm so concerned about what the heck is wrong with me.

Well today I go to get my physical for nursing and my blood pressure is 160/100 - way, way higher than usual doctor appointment spikes. I was extremely nervous and rushing, so I knew I'd likely get a high reading, but that was so much higher than I expected. The nurse taking it seemed concerned - but the doctor didn't seem too worried about it. He had me wait a few minutes to recheck it but I was still stressed on what the number would be so, surprise surprise it didn't come down :(.

I just feel so silly - I take anxiety medication for general anxiety, but it's like it doesn't touch my nerves when I'm really worried or stressed out.

Just randomly venting :(. I am in pretty good physical health besides allergies/asthma which are controlled so I just didn't want them to have to write that number in on my sheet :(. I feel like they'll judge me or something for having high blood pressure - even though I know it was stress related.

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I'm the same way. Whenever I try (keyword TRY) to donate blood I normally get turned away for too high of a pulse. Now, I'm only 18 and so my HR isn't naturally so spiked, but I start just thinking of what the numbers are going to be so it stresses me out.

My Dr. has somewhat given up on getting corrects pulses/BP on me because I just freak out. I'll have my blood pressue taken at home and it's fine, yet when someone else is taking my vitals I worry about them "judging" my numbers.

Sorry, I don't have any advice, but I just wanted you let you know that you aren't alone.

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Thank you for sharing, seriously - I appreciate it. It's like ever since I got my first high blood pressure reading when I was going through treatment for anxiety at my most stressed out - I've been so worried about what the numbers will be, that I can't get an accurate measurement.

It's nice to know someone else is in the same boat! I feel sorry for whoever I'm paired up with in class trying to get my vitals because I'm guessing they're going to be spazzing out.

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This is a fairly common phenomenon -- it even has a semi-official name, "white coat hypertension" (referring to the blood pressure only being high when one is around people in white coats (i.e., in an official healthcare setting :))).

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Elkpark - I definitely have that :). I guess I was just shocked at how high it jumped :eek: and how it wouldn't come down the second time around either.

I think I was so worried that they'd judge me for having high readings at doctor's office, where here I am trying to become a nurse - that I just made it that much worse for myself in the end.

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I'm the same way. Whenever I try (keyword TRY) to donate blood I normally get turned away for too high of a pulse. Now, I'm only 18 and so my HR isn't naturally so spiked, but I start just thinking of what the numbers are going to be so it stresses me out. My Dr. has somewhat given up on getting corrects pulses/BP on me because I just freak out. I'll have my blood pressue taken at home and it's fine, yet when someone else is taking my vitals I worry about them "judging" my numbers.Sorry, I don't have any advice, but I just wanted you let you know that you aren't alone.

This is why I went to a cardiologist. I soon was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. I was repeatedly turned down to give blood because my resting heart rate was 115-130 bpm. I thought I was just nervous but it turned out to be more than just nerves. I had a catheter ablation to disable the extra pathway and my heart rate has gone down some. I'm not trying to scare you, I just thought it was interesting because that's the way that my condition was discovered. Now I make sure I give blood on a regular basis. :up:

When I went to have my physical done before I started my clinical rotation, my heart rate was 125 so apparently I get nervous, too. I also have a feeling that before med/surg clinicals start I'll have to get some sort of anxiety medication to help ease my nerves. :p

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I used to work in a doctor's surgery back in the UK and we would see this a lot. It may be worth getting a bp machine or see if one of the local chemists have one you can use and check your bp away from the professional setting. Many of my patients used to do this as most chemists in the UK offer a bp service and we would find a lot of the bp's would be normal

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Specializes in none as of to date.
This is why I went to a cardiologist. I soon was diagnosed with Wolff Parkinson White syndrome. I was repeatedly turned down to give blood because my resting heart rate was 115-130 bpm. I thought I was just nervous but it turned out to be more than just nerves. I had a catheter ablation to disable the extra pathway and my heart rate has gone down some. I'm not trying to scare you, I just thought it was interesting because that's the way that my condition was discovered. Now I make sure I give blood on a regular basis. :up:

When I went to have my physical done before I started my clinical rotation, my heart rate was 125 so apparently I get nervous, too. I also have a feeling that before med/surg clinicals start I'll have to get some sort of anxiety medication to help ease my nerves. :p

I had SVT and MVP..but I too had to ablation to fix the SVT..now all i have to deal with is the MVP..which is managable for now. Dont let this get you worked up:they wont judge you for your BP or heart rate, for your personal experience will make you that much more of a compassionate nurse..and will put many a patient at ease :)

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I came home and took my blood pressure and all was back to normal - but I'm going back to my new primary care who I just met with the Friday before last to just check in on this.

I get really panicky and anxious feeling sitting in the classroom environment that even medication doesn't seem to knock down, so if my blood pressure is going to be elevated from stress/anxiety it is probably worth looking into if medication is something I should explore.

I know I was just SO nervous that this was going to be a huge physical and all my nursing school chances were hinged on this, that I totally freaked myself out. The doctor barely blinked at the high blood pressure and just ok'd my application and said I looked good.

:down: for anxiety.

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Jeez I always have the opposite problem. Mine is so low, even after drinking coffee, that people are worried I'm going to pass out.

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My blood pressure spikes at the doctor's office as well...especially lately! My doctor just rechecks it himself after I am "calmed down"...even though I don't feel too much anxiety about being at the doctors office...it is usually back to normal when he checks it...But I often get the question "are you nervous or something?" But I definitely don't think anyone would judge you...it's not like you can control it...so don't worry yourself about it! There will be plenty to worry about it nursing school :)

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Dream & Achieve, just curious, and totally off topic, but I, too, have MVP. I take meds for ht and something at night to calm me for sleep. My question is, do you exercise at all? I have a hard time getting my HR up coz I worry I'll have issues. again, just curious.

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