Do You Have ‘White Coat Syndrome,’ Here’s How to Tell?

Many people are afraid of doctors.  To be more specific, they’re afraid of going to the doctor. After all, what if you get bad news? What if you find your health is depleting? What if you have to go through all kinds of tests, getting pricked and prodded for something you never saw coming?  In the Black community especially, there is a level of mistrust – and for good reason. Oftentimes, doctors don’t receive the cultural sensitivity training they need. Moreover, many doctors are seeing numerous patients, and this can oftentimes lead to missed or overlooked issues and concerns.  Simply put, mistrust and discomfort in medical settings are not uncommon. Many Black patients may also lack adequate healthcare access, so when they do visit a doctor, it’s not the experience that others have. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to ease those nerves. If you or someone you know absolutely hates going to see the doctor, here are six common-sense strategies for overcoming that ‘White Coat Syndrome’…  1. Establish a Patient-Doctor Rapport White Coat Syndrome refers to increased anxiety when seeing the white coat of the doctor. This, in turn, can lead to increased pulse and blood pressure, which may...