high blood pressure

I recently left a company after 12 years.Why would I leave a good company after 12 years,great pay,benefits and a pension?One word ,stress.I have never had a problem with passing a DOT physical until recently.High blood pressure is the reason.My diet is good except for the other bad things that can also play a role in elevating BP.I smoke and when off duty I have a few drinks.That can be one problem but stress from this type of work as you get older can also play big role.Don't get me wrong,trucking is a great job and you are not chained to a desk.Being chained to a desk would kill me faster than trucking.My uncle trucked all of his life.He died at 61 years of a heart attack.He ate at truckstops,loved cigars and slept 4 hours a night hauling produce.He always looked healthy but heart problems don't always show signs until it's too late.Knowing my uncle,he proably made his own Dot card himself.He was old school and to heck with all of these regulations.When I started driving trucks in 1980. I can't remember even having a physical card.Nobody asked me about background or anything else.Three questions,"Can you drive"?yes."Can you pass a road test"?yes."Do you have a license"?yes.Your hired.Now I know I am rambling on,as older truckers often do,so back to your main question.How will my BP affect my chances of being hired and also being let go?Your medical records,even your DOT physical exam results are only between you and your MD.This is law.They are private and it would be wise of you never to disclose this if even asked by someone other than your MD.However employers are not stupid,well some are,and simply presenting a card with an expire date of less than two years will raise eyebrows.Two years,good to gne year,maybe a problem.Three months,big problem.My advice,get your BP in check before hiring on,take the meds.Some work right away.Others may take time.Keep in touch with your MD.The problem can be easily fixed with proper care if you do it in the early stages.Hope this helps.

 

I'm with you on this one...Be careful though. You're young and it's a problem for you earlier than mine was for me. The numbers change that hit us drivers a few years ago was the problem for me this last time.

This is my first year for the 1 year card...my pressure spiked real bad on me and I was forced to do the medication thing. Make sure that your BP meds don't affect your abilities to drive. I had to change meds 3 times before I found one that would work properly for me. I have a local job with a set schedule...so I can take my meds before I go to bed. Mine have a mild effect right after I take them...but I don't know it while I'm asleep.

 

Well right now, Im just on Bisoprolol. I went to a ticker checker a few years back and they said my heart was thicker than normal but if i got on meds and lost weight, it would go away. Unfortunately, the weight hasn't gone off and Im not good at taking the meds as Id like to be. argh.

 

Get a job that actually requires you to work. Not just driving, but something that requires you to do physical labor in conjunction with the load. I aint talking about becoming a professional lumper here either.

Look to flatbedding or carhauling. Something that will make you work and lose some weight so your health won't suffer further.

Eat smarter. I'm not saying to totally give up all your favorite foods here either. Common sense will dictate what you're doing to keep the weight and not lose any. Cut out as much soda and other sugar in drinks as possible. Don't go cold turkey either. Sugar IS addictive and will let you know it when you quit. I know from experience.

TAKE YOUR MEDICATION.....IT'LL SAVE YOUR LIFE.

You don't need to vapor lock on the highway at 70 mph with a fully loaded semi.

Rant Off.

 

I have high blood pressure as well if you have the pressure controlled under 140/90 you can get your card and like was said it depends on the Doctor as to how much time he gives you. I guess you have to declare in the physical form that you are on meds other wise it would be 2 year certification no problem. My company took me with no problem even waiting until I got my pressure under control.
Good luck

 

Mine is borderline as well. sometimes I have to sit in the room laying down for a few minutes to get it low enough to pass. Usually these docs they send you to ill do anything to get you to pass. The one I just took a few months ago I was hired on the spot and sent right to the docs. Not a prob usually except I had already had a pot of coffee that morning and usually if I'm going to the doc I don't drink any cafine or eat any sugar. I had to lay in the room for over a half hour meditating to get it low enough to pass. took 4 tries and I was getting worried.

 

*I think that basically any job in trucking is going to be slack in terms of physical activity. My particular job has me unloading half a trailer daily five days a week so I move around a bit.
*I rarely make anything that comes out of a box or the frozen section as they are high in sodium...fresh food is best.
*soda can be bad if you overkill on it. I Myself used to drink a 24 pack in less than two days. Now I have a pop once or twice a week, IF that. Water is the way.

 

I know the cut off is above 139/89, I keep a running blood pressure log of my BP I got it off line, googled blood pressure log, to record 1 years worth of readings. Some times I got nervous for the physicals my doc called it white coat hypertension. With the new log I can rest easy because I write the numbers down 3 -4 times a week I go to walmart or cvs for the machine in the pharmacy. If it is up only for that day I show my doctor the log I have been keeping.

 

And I wonder,as I struggle with blood pressure also,why the most BEAUTIFUL woman in the clinic HAS to check it???? Of course its gonna rise...