High Blood Pressure

n1ck88

n1ck88

New Member
I was in the local cvs today and put my arm in the blood pressure cuff to see that mine was 145/85. Now I'm nervous as hell. I'm not over weight and I don't smoke. I'm guessing goto the doctor and get a beta blocker or something? Anybody have any experience with this? As long as its controlled is that OK with the FAA?
 
Have a professional take your pressure, not a grocery store machine. Those things are prone to malfunction. I've seen them give all sorts of crazy results.

It's probably just frustration over the app process anyway.
 
n1ck88 said:
I was in the local cvs today and put my arm in the blood pressure cuff to see that mine was 145/85. Now I'm nervous as hell. I'm not over weight and I don't smoke. I'm guessing goto the doctor and get a beta blocker or something? Anybody have any experience with this? As long as its controlled is that OK with the FAA?
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Definately don't take anything for bloodpressure. The FAA really frowns on this heavily. Just go to the Ask a flight surgeon section and read all the blood pressure posts. Besides i wouldn't put too much faith in the CVS BP cuff. I did that and it was high and when I saw the doc he said it was actually kinda of low and I saw him on more than one occasion.
 
Yeah....and to boot....most doctors office assistants don't take your BP the correct way either. The automated cuffs are not one size fits all. If the cuff is too small it will give you false high BP's, if it is to large it will give you false low BP's. My suggestion, go buy a manual BP cuff that is the right size for you-->there are size indicators on the cuffs themselves....put it on, pump the bad boy up to about 200 or so....palpate for your pulse on your wrist and SLOWLY let out the air from the cuff....when you feel the first hearbeat on your wrist, whatever number the cuff needle was at is your systolic BP.....I know it sounds complicated but it really isn't. This is VERY accurate way of measuring SBP. (I am a trauma nurse in a large metro hospital in Dallas)

UTAMAV, R.N., B.S.N., CCRN
:bandit:
 
You will be fine. You were probably walking around in the store before you took the measurement. Next time you take it, sit and relax and just breathe for about 5 minutes beforehand and I bet it will be substantially lower. I used those grocery store checkers several times leading up to my PEPC, and I found they were pretty accurate, at least for me, as long as I relaxed a bit before.
 
I think 145/85 would still pass, depending on your age. But yes, don't rely on those machines at drug/grocery stores. For grins, about a week before my medical I used one at my local grocery store and my BP ranged from 115/70 to 140/88. When I had my BP taken at the AME, it was 124/80, which is right in the middle of the "normal" range for most people.
 
i did the same thing when i was in LA for the pepc. I went to the CVS and took my bp just to be safe. It was a little high so then i was all nervous at the PEPC. They ended up taking my bp three times so that it was under 130/80. U just need to relax and you should be all right. I do smoke and tried not to at all two days leading up to the PEPC. Good luck
 
i went to the doctor today and it was 134/88. does it have to be under 130/80. he wouldnt put me on meds for mine just told me to eat less salt.
 
Don't get on meds before you get hired...

The limit is 140/90. You are fine. Just sit still and relax for a few minutes before they take it at the PEPC and you will be OK.
 
Anyone know this.....My BP is controlled to normal readings by the use of meds, last checked was 121/74, that I have been on since I was 25. I have a family history of high bp. Would I get a "special consideration" (forgot what its called) from the air surgeon after the medical portion of the PEPC? I hear it can take a long time to hear a yes or no.
 
Just relax.

I have 'white coat syndrome' which means that if you tested my blood pressure at home where I'm relaxed, it's goign to show normal. But the second I step into a doctor's office it goes through the roof for a short period of time.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Just relax.

I have 'white coat syndrome' which means that if you tested my blood pressure at home where I'm relaxed, it's goign to show normal. But the second I step into a doctor's office it goes through the roof for a short period of time.
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Im in the same boat. Happens all the time. By the time I get into the doctors office and have waited for another 45mins I lose that feeling and it turns out ok.
 
jamin35008 said:
Anyone know this.....My BP is controlled to normal readings by the use of meds, last checked was 121/74, that I have been on since I was 25. I have a family history of high bp. Would I get a "special consideration" (forgot what its called) from the air surgeon after the medical portion of the PEPC? I hear it can take a long time to hear a yes or no.
Click to expand...

That would probably be best answered in the "Ask a Flight Surgeon" forum.
 
DO NOT let them put you on any meds. The meds themselves can keep you from getting cleared. I wish I would have gotten to you earlier and told you to not even go to the doctor.

You don't want to create a "history" of high blood pressure which is what doctors visits and prescriptions do. You don't want to give them anything to question..."Well, he tested fine at the PEPC, but his medical records show a history of blah blah blah."

Avoid visiting the doctor for anything other than a broken bone or the flu until your PEPC.

Get copies of your medical records for you to read. Some doctors are really ambiguous. For example, my doctor told me that I have GERD (acid reflux), but did she put it in her notes? Was I officially diagnosed? I won't know unless I see the records. If you don't know what your medical records say then you risk contradicting them...and then you look like your lying.
 
I just went to the LA PEPC in Jan. I am on meds for HBP and of course it was high that day... They tried a 2nd time but sent me home with a letter to have my doctor fill out & they implied that they just needed to get 1 good reading below 140/90. I lucked out... I swear I get white coat syndrome also, but the day I went in it was dialed in... 126/75. I faxed it back to the Medical dept and I'm good to go now. From what I understand... as long as it's under control they're ok w/ meds... But, now it's on my permanent medical record for life w/ the FAA.
 
n1ck88 said:
I was in the local cvs today and put my arm in the blood pressure cuff to see that mine was 145/85. Now I'm nervous as hell. I'm not over weight and I don't smoke. I'm guessing goto the doctor and get a beta blocker or something? Anybody have any experience with this? As long as its controlled is that OK with the FAA?
Click to expand...

Answer to all:

I take a low-dose toprol and I'm horribly affected by the white coat syndrome. Most meds are fine, but you'll have to go through special consideration:

- 3 visits to a physician for BP checks on separate days
- Lists of medication and possible side effects
- You fax it to the AME and everything gets checked out before your clearance is issued.
 
So Im really curious, If you go to the Doctor after the PEPC and are on HBP medicine, and the white coat syndrome doesn't change, then what happens?

I Have been on liprinosil for 6 weeks now, and I've been taking daily readings at home with the cuff I purchased. Every day its 120/80 however when I went to the Doctors office yesterday it Sky Rocketed again. I'm not sure how to get it calmed down. I kept a log of my BP for the last two weeks, every reading was normal. The Doctor gave me a form to write it all down. So she has to fax in my BP readings from my visit, but she is writing a note that I am in perfect health but just am suffering from the White Coat syndrome. Does anybody know if this will ruin my medical clearance??

Also, has anyone seen that episode of Curb your enthusiasm where this happens to Larry David when the Hot nurse walks in???
Similar situation for me.
 
Churchill1 said:
Definately don't take anything for bloodpressure. The FAA really frowns on this heavily. Just go to the Ask a flight surgeon section and read all the blood pressure posts. Besides i wouldn't put too much faith in the CVS BP cuff. I did that and it was high and when I saw the doc he said it was actually kinda of low and I saw him on more than one occasion.
Click to expand...

Well I have hypertension and am taking meds for it. Flight Surgeon told me its "not a big deal really" as long as its controlled. Had to see my Doctor and have a form filled out stating no side effects.
 
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