Blood pressure question
#3
Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: SoCal
Posts: 87
This was taken directly from the FMCSA website.
Blood pressure (BP). If a driver has hypertension and/or is being medicated for hypertension, he or she should be recertified more frequently. An individual diagnosed with Stage 1 hypertension (BP is 140/90-159/99) may be certified for one year. At recertification, an individual with a BP equal to or less than 140/90 may be certified for one year; however, if his or her BP is greater than 140/90 but less than 160/100, a one-time certificate for 3 months can be issued. An individual diagnosed with Stage 2 (BP is 160/100-179/109) should be treated and a one-time certificate for 3-month certification can be issued. Once the driver has reduced his or her BP to equal to or less than 140/90, he or she may be recertified annually thereafter. An individual diagnosed with Stage 3 hypertension (BP equal to or greater than 180/110) should not be certified until his or her BP is reduced to 140/90 or less, and may be recertified every 6 months.
#5
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Leander, TX
Posts: 1,266
Bouncer, you should probably see a doctor. Your diastolic(low number) is high. Too high. Anything over 80 is a cause for concern and should be monitored by a doctor. Even your systolic(high number) is pushing over what is considered healthy now. You are definately in hypertension and possibly need to be on meds. I spent 4 years as an EMT Intermediate in a busy EMS system, although a doctor by no means, you should speak with a doctor. While you may be okay now to pass a DOT physical, your BP rises with age and will need to be addressed soon.
Here's a chart of what is considered healthy. The threshold for hypertension has been lowered in the last couple of years and what WAS good BP is no longer the case. Good luck and stay safe out there. Normal Systolic 119 mm Hg or below Diastolic 79 mm Hg or below Prehypertension Systolic 120–139 mm Hg Diastolic 80–89 mm Hg High blood pressure (hypertension) Systolic 140 mm Hg or above Diastolic 90 mm Hg or above
#6
Go to your local health food store and get some Hawthorn Berry Extract. It will bring your blood pressure down without the side effects of prescription medications and cost a fraction of the price.
#7
Also salt intake is one of the BIGGEST contributions to high blood pressure, secondary to smoking, caffeine, sugars, and being over weight. Before you go to a blood pressure test, you should make sure your salt intake is as low as possible for a few days before, no smoking at least 30 min before the test (But I would give it at least 2 hours), and no caffeine or sugary things for at least an hour before hand (Again I would go with a couple hours on this), that way you can see what your normal blood pressure is, without the effects everyday things we often ingest that will temporarily effect your BP.
#10
Definitely a correlation between weight and blood pressure. Back in January when I took the DOT physical, I weighed 208 with BP 140/90. (I passed the physical)
Then I started driving the truck, lost the beer habit and lost a lot of weight. Two weeks ago got tested: weight 166 with BP 90/62. |


