Blood Pressure and DOT

[Doghouse]

The Doc. told me that the cut off for allowing a driver to pass the phsyical was 140 over 90.
Do any of you have a problem and or taking blood pressure medication?

[allan5oh]

My dad has a problem. I don't remember the exact numbers but it was somewhere around 160/110.

He monitors his pressure regularly, and finds the pills really help. He's also noticed overeating really spikes the blood pressure. Different foods too.

I have to look at it in a positive light, he's still doing very good(hes 49 right now), and I have fair warning!

[Red Clay Rambler]

There is an herb called Hawthorn Berry you can buy at health food/vitamin stores. It was recommended here by Gman. I tried it recently and it lowered my numbers significantly over a period of a couple of weeks, taking it three times per day. My "upper" number dropped from the high 140's to the 128-132 range as a result. My "lower" number has never been a problem, it dropped a little also. I took the capsule form, it might come in liquid extract also. Exercise and weight control are important also, I'm 48, 5'9" @ 165#. My pressure never crept up to "high" levels until I hit my 40's.

If your numbers are just a little high, the doc should certify you for a shorter time period with the stipulation that you have to re-test in a few months to see if you have lowered it.

[SwervynMervyn]

I had a physical last Monday. I passed everything but my blood pressure was too high to pass. It was 140/100.

I was already on Lisinopril. My Dr just checked me over in May (my own Dr is giving me the DOT physical)

So he changed my medication to Lisinopril with a water pill in it. It has already lowered my bp alot. With the water pill in I have to increase my potassium intake. Plus reducing sodium helps too.

So I go back to get my blood pressure taken again and the Dr will sign off on my physical.

If I would have gone to a company Dr I would have failed the physical and had to come back and redo the whole thing again after the bp was in check.

There are water pills you can buy over the counter, but I'm not sure how they work.

[Doghouse]

I was surprised at a 136 over 92 reading. I'm only 5'9" and 180lbs, I've been very active up until 6 months ago, and I stopped running.
Looking closer at my diet, it seems to be way too high in sodium, and high BP runs on my Dads side.
I've got 90 days to get it down, so it looks like some drastic dietary changes are rolling my way. 39 years of junk food catches up with you eventually

[person]

They say if you eat 2 to 4 pieces (stalks) of celery a day you won't have high blood pressure.
Here's a crap load of natural formulas. http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...ure+formula%22 Stay off perscriptions. They can be a downward spiral.
I don't know much about it, but be careful that you don't go saltless in the summer heat. Bad things can happen.

[Doghouse]

I have no intention of going on medications for a problem that I created by eating junk :sad:
I have been in contact with a nutritionist, and she helped explain all that I need to know, and gave me (AKA,..I paid for) information on how to change this without any medication.
I've only got 90 days,...so its starts now!!

[rank]

Awwww, man that sucks.

It's karma. I remember a while back someone (not me) suggested the FIRST step in getting authority should be to get a physical and you dismissed the idea. 1st lesson: take nothing for granted.

Good luck.

[RostyC]

I was 30 give or take when I let my step mom take my BP, she was an RN. It was out of this world my top number I can't remember too well, I wanna say 160 but the bottom number was 120, her mouth dropped, she told me to see a doctor right away which I did the next day and they started me on 360 mg of Diovan.

I changed my beer intake and am now down to 10 mg of lisinopril, and only a few beers on the weekend :sad:

If it runs in the family there's only so much you can do Doghouse, maybe you can avoid meds for now but it will be back as you get older I would imagine. Good luck.

[Doghouse]

Yeah, that one got me good, I was jinxed by the person who mentioned that. Still I was very surprised and its actually a good thing,...at least I can take care of it now and then live longer so I can drive my truck.

Just goes to show that I should keep closer tabs on my health, instead of being arrogant and thinking I'm bullet proof.

[Orangetxguy]

My last physical..in May...my BP was 145 / 90 the first reading...but the nurse used a small cuff best used on a frail old lady than me... and ....... I was looking out the door of the lab at the "Tush" of a girl that might have been 30....MmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmGOOD !!!
:evil: :evil: :evil:
Girl went around da corner out of sight..nurse got the Large Cuff...and da ole BP was a respectable 112 / 78

[Doghouse]

I wish it could have been that simple. I have tested mine 4 times since, and on different machines. It always comes out 136/128 over 91/94, so I do have a problem, and its not the hot lab tech,.....unfortunately.

Mine was 140 over 100. I was put on the smallest dose of BP medicine and now my BP is 117/70 most of the time.

I was given a Beta blocker to lower my heart rate and a diuretic to get rid of fluid in my body. Now I don't get excited any more, can't get it up and piss my pants if I fart but I feel so much better.

[Doghouse]

Steve, you have crossed the line on "things I don't really need to know",....and now I have to go think happy thoughts.

[Kurbski]

I caynt help ya thar Steeve. TMI = to much info

I remember a driver posting with food poisoning and dehydrated somewhere west of the Mississippi.I know your kidding??

Just in case anyone want to know:

The reason " water pills" or diuretics are used is that it reduces water,which reduces the need for the heart to pump harder to move blood through tissue,reducing BP....Beta Blockers slow down the heart lowering BP. They are prescribed according to body weight and regulated over time with daily BP checks. Try to get your bp checked at the same time daily to get a true reading. It's called practicing medicine for a reason. Using the idiot box at your local RX store is not accurate IMO. You need to have your BP checked at a Fire Station or Medical Office. The problem with Meds regulated by body weight..Is that when you get dehydrated from a virus / bug or heat exhaustion, your beta blocker still remains the same. It could actually cause beta blocker overdose to occur in some cases since your body weight and fludis have been reduced by sweating,vomiting,diarhea etc...

Maintaing a Healthy Lifestyle along with reducing your risk factors is very important. Deal with Stress, Exercise, Eat in Moderation, Get your blood labs and fix what's broke. You might take care of your truck better than your body. But what good is that going to do for a driver who has a heart attack or stroke because they don't do their own PM's???

[Shawster]

Mine was 140 over 100. I was put on the smallest dose of BP medicine and now my BP is 117/70 most of the time.

I was given a Beta blocker to lower my heart rate and a diuretic to get rid of fluid in my body. Now I don't get excited any more, can't get it up and piss my pants if I fart but I feel so much better.

Ahahaha, that's hilarious.