Expert: Domenic Sica - 9/11/2009

Question
I am 20 years old and have been consistently getting high blood pressure readings for the past 2 years. I am not overweight, I am on a college sports team l so i get plenty of exercise and i eat a pretty normal diet but my blood pressure has been around 170/112. Every time i go to the doctor they make some remark about how high my blood pressure is and how odd it is for someone as young and athletic as me to have it. They all come to the conclusion that i am just nervous and have "white coat" hypertension. I believed that for a while but i have started checking my bp at the pharmacy when ever i go the store and they all usually give a similar reading of 165ish/115ish. I am just curious what could be the causes and treatments for this because i know bp this high is abnormal and dangerous.

Answer
This does not sound like white-coat hypertension. You probably should have this formally evaluated by your regular treating physician. The causes could be that it is inherited, relating to renal or cardiac disease, or due to one of several different hormonal abnormalities. Another thought for you is that based on the type of athletic activity your blood pressure may go even higher when you are active; thus, another reason to have it checked out.

Regards,

Domenic Sica, M.D.