Sometimes, a patient’s blood pressure may be elevated in a doctor's office but normal at home, a phenomenon known as white coat hypertension. It is estimated that 10% to 20% of high blood pressure diagnoses in clinical settings are actually cases of white coat hypertension, where blood pressure is well-controlled when measured outside the doctor's office. For physicians aiming to assess whether a patient's blood pressure is within a healthy range, the interpretation may depend on the type of graph they use. Due to the natural fluctuations in blood pressure from moment to moment and day to day, it can be difficult for doctors to make an accurate assessment. Now, a new study has highlighted how different graph formats can affect clinical decision-making related to blood pressure diagnoses.

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