The cardiologist I know said that they don't consider the "white coat" effect much any more. He said that if your BP is spiking into high territory because you're at a doc's office, then it's also spiking at other times, too.

He said while being able to sit still and calm down and have it come down is good, the fact is that none of us can spend our lives sitting down being calm all the time.

This is also the cardiologist who told me he wouldn't have put me on BP meds without trying diet and exercise for 3 months first, so it's not that he's quick to deal out pills. He's also Asst. Chief of Cardiology at one of the major hospitals in Dallas, and director of their noninvasive medical lab (noninvasive -- not surgery -- being the important thing there).

I just thought I'd toss that out there in case anybody finds in helpful.