[jhrozek]

But isn’t it very common to account for the white coat syndrome?

I was recently diagnosed with HBP and the process went like this: - doctor took the measurement, was very high

- asked me to measure at home, call if it was still high (it was, but much lower)

- invited me over, I got a blood pressure monitor for 24h. That showed a borderline 130/85) higher BP. For comparison, he was reading 160/100 at his office..

This is just to illustrate that doctors should know about the white coat syndrome and shouldn’t diagnose you based on readings in their office only.

[inglor_cz]

Competent and caring doctors know about it and mind it, yes. Finding those that do have free patient slots is quite a quest, though. Especially outside large urban centers.

You will always find a great cardiologist or dentist in Prague. Ostrava is already much more challenging and Bruntál means playing it on hard mode :)