Question: I have an anxiety disorder which has been well-managed for over 20 years. The anxiety I experience is situational, not general. It appears when I fly on planes, or visit doctors or hospitals. In addition I have some performance anxiety when performing with a small band and playing music and singing. The most troubling part is with doctors, dentists, etc. I also have a strong sensitivity to having my blood pressure measured by a doctor or medical person. When I measure it at home, it is basically normal (approx 135/75) for my age (73). When measured by my doctor, it can be as high as 195/105. The elevated reading only lasts a short time- when it's measured again at home in 1-2 hours, it has returned to normal. I have no other significant health issues. My question: is it dangerous for my BP to be that high for a short time? I want to take a flight to Europe but am concerned about the elevated pressure when I first board the plane. I also want to have Lasik surgery done but I suspect the same thing will happen before the surgery. The only way to reduce this reaction is to take a sedative like Xanax or Klonopin before doing these activities (as much as 1.5 mg) and the effects can last a long time. Are you aware of any treatments for this type of reaction?

A follow-up question: If I took an airline flight of 2-3 hours duration, and my BP was elevated to the levels mentioned, would that be an issue? Obviously, I don't have any way of knowing what the levels would be then, because it's never been measured when I'm flying. My sense is that it is elevated, but not as much as when I visit a doctor and have it measured.