White coat hypertension, also called white coat syndrome, is a real condition that happens when you have high blood pressure readings at your doctor’s office, but normal readings at home. “Because high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, it’s very important to keep an eye on it and understand how a high reading at your doctor’s office might mean that you’re at risk,” said Matthew Muldoon, MD, director of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute’s Hypertension Program. Doctor visits can make some people nervous or anxious, which may raise their blood pressure. According to Dr. Muldoon, this can be a sign that your blood pressure may be high at other stressful times, which can raise your risk for heart disease. To lower your risk, it’s best to keep your blood pressure in a healthy range as often as you can.