Blood pressure should be measured at home before labeling and treating a patient as hypertensive. Some patients will have white coat hypertension (that is, higher blood pressure in the office than at home) and some patients will have masked hypertension in the office setting (that is, normal blood pressure when actually it usually remains high). White coat hypertension does not add any risk, however, masked hypertension can pose an immediate threats by being unable to recognize and diagnose hypertension.
Evidence is accumulating that blood pressure should be measured at home, either with a 24-hour monitor or periodic self measurements.
(J Am Coll Cardiol 2005; 46:743-751)
