I have the same thing and the doctors said I have panic disorder! Finally someone that has the numbess in the head! It's what triggers my attacks because I think something is going to happen.
Get yourself a home monitor and record your BP on a daily basis. Then take the readings to your doctor.
The reason they want to blame it on panic attacks is because your BP is not that high yet. If very high they give you a 24 hour urine test, refer you to a cardiologist and in my case also a hypertension specialist.
If you eat right and exercise just tell them that you are concerned about your BP readings and you would like to get to the bottom of it what trickers it. Tell them it runs in your family maybe then they do more than say its panic attacks. However, panic attacks can make your BP shoot way much higher than your BP you mentioned above. Only you know if you feel panic or not.
Thanks for your posting. Doctors have diagnosed Panic Attacks based on questioning, but no formal testing has been done. I don't know if I panic from feeling the symptoms or the symptoms are a sign of something much more serious. This becomes a problem when I drive and I get different solutions depending on the doctor. Using my common sense whatever it is I will probably get something from the doctor that will keep it under control. The remedy is alway the same, eat better and more exercise meanwhile my preassure shoots to the roof. I am concerned that high blood preassure could lead into other complications and the sad part is that I am only 37 years old. I guess there is no easy answer for this.
Get yourself a home monitor and record your readings. Bring them to your doctor's appointment. He/she will get to the bottom of it. If you would get panic attacks you would know it believe me. Are you getting panic attacks? You did not mention it. Panic attacks can make your BP shoot up but so can many other things as in eating to much salt, stress etc etc