New Blood Pressure standards

The American Heart Association has changed "normal" blood pressure to be less than 120/80

LINK

• normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg;
• elevated blood pressure is 120-129 mm Hg and <80 mm Hg;
• stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 mm Hg or 80-89 mm Hg; and
• stage 2 hypertension is ≥140 mm Hg or ≥90 mm Hg.

I suspect that in the coming months, the FMCSA medical to change the current numbers downward. If you are having problems with the current numbers, I suggest getting with your doctor and getting that BP down if you want to continue to hold a CDL.

 

At first, I did not want to make that comment. What I wrote is maybe 10% of what it was before I started editing. I'm getting tired of preaching and begging people to start taking proper care of their bodies. My daughter told me about 6 months ago about a passenger from the USA who died of DVT in London. She only heard about it by accident during a layover in London. I lost a sister this coming January will be 2 years ago, after a heart issue. These new standards are about the business of medicine, not about keeping people healthy. I want people to use common sense, eat right, limit processed food as much as possible, and get as much exercise as they can. Lose that spare tire, ladies, lose some of that rear. These new standards are going to find their way into the DOT physicals soon. You can set your watch by it. Back in the 1990s, when the FMCSA lowered them, many truckers went on meds. Some of these meds cause dizziness and lightheadedness. I take a nitrate, and honestly, I have to be careful when standing. Here is my BP history right off my iPhone app I use, this information is also available to my Physician.



As you can see, my BP is averaging higher than these new standards, and I eat right, have lost weight, and take a nitrate. I am by this as I am about OSA. It's all about $$$$. I really don't need anybody commenting on how well they sleep today because of having a CPAP. If you are happy, then fine. I am not speaking to you. I am talking about the hundreds, if not thousands, of drivers who are sleeping just fine and get caught up in this money maker almost every day.

I think this man is 100% correct. I'm telling you people now, if the FMCSA adopts these standards, thousands of drivers are going to be forced off the road.



I know I have just peeved a bunch of people off. FYI, this is my last comment in this thread. I STAND BY ALL OF MY COMMENTS!

 

I said I was not going to add any more to this thread, but I saw this information online this morning and wanted to post it here.

LINK
ON that link, pay attention to this statement.

Background:

The physical qualification standard for hypertension states that a person is physically qualified to drive a CMV if that person has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with his/her ability to operate a CMV safely (49 CFR §391.41(b)(6)). The Medical Advisory Criteria for §391.41(b)(6) is based on the FMCSA’s Cardiovascular Advisory Guidelines for the Examination of CMV drivers, which used the 1997 Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee (JNC) on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure.

Since 1997, the JNC has issued the Seventh and Eighth Reports on hypertension standards. In 2003, JNC 7 was issued under the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The JNC 8 was issued in 2014. NHLBI partnered with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) to develop recommendations on the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults.

Between 2003 and 2017, the hypertension standards have been updated (JNC 7 and JNC 8) either comprehensively to focus on a range of areas such as definitions of hypertension, blood pressure measurement issues, lifestyle changes, or the updates to the hypertension standards were narrowly focused.

Summary:

As the JNC 7 and JNC 8 blood pressure standards result in more individuals in the public sector falling into the category of Stage 1 hypertension, the findings of the research will inform FMCSA regarding the medical certification implications and consequences for CMV drivers, as well as primary considerations for medical examiners during the medical certification process.

This means that the FMCSA follows the guidelines established by the Joint National Committee (JNC) on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure regarding hypertension.

Now here is a link to the JNC 9! <<<<<Take heed to this!!!!


I am not going to get sucked into a debate about what this means. I do not have a dog in this fight, and I refuse to be the boy who cried wolf. The FMCSA, as stated in the link, clearly states that its medical guidance is based on the Joint National Committee (JNC) definition of hypertension.

If I am reading this correctly, you CAN expect the FMCSA to change its medical guidance on hypertension to reflect the JNC 9 standards. As I stated in my last comment, I DO NOT agree with this. However, I am not the one who makes these rules. I HIGHLY recommend anybody with BP issues to start the process of getting those numbers down.