High Blood Pressure

Hi Von, Blood pressure is a goofy thing. I can take 5 times and get 5 different readings. My late mom, who was a nurse, said I have what's called "White coat syndrome". When I walk into a Dr.'s office, I can feel my respiration going up, and usually takes a few readings to get an accurate #. I've found, generally, a company wants their own physical, even if you just had one somewhere else.

 

My wife is a nurse, She says the morning of the physical eat a banana and drink a 12 oz glass of skim milk, I've always done it and my BP has been normal for the physical.

 

From what I have seen posted most company’s do a DOT physical & drug test even if you have a good up to date medical card. Let’s say you have 1 year left and you get a DOT physical at a new job it would be good for 2 years baring anything else. My school said the same thing about my card.

I can tell you first hand losing weight will drop your BP. I had been on BP meds for years up to this point. At my yearly personal physical I came up boarder line diabetic and was told to lose weight. After working with my doctor we came up with a “life style change” of only having carbs once a day at breakfast OR lunch and not to eat after 7pm at night. I also cut back on portion size and doing exercise I lost 30 lbs.
Besides feeling better because of the weight loss, no more back & leg pain after standing for 10 min. my sugar level came down to normal and I had to cut way back on my BP meds or if I got up too fast would almost pass out.
Good luck on keeping your BP under control.
Dave ----

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4353974]Hi Von, Blood pressure is a goofy thing. I can take 5 times and get 5 different readings. My late mom, who was a nurse, said I have what's called "White coat syndrome". When I walk into a Dr.'s office, I can feel my respiration going up, and usually takes a few readings to get an accurate #. I've found, generally, a company wants their own physical, even if you just had one somewhere else.[/QUOTE]

Yup. I run into the same thing. I had to get a physical for a company yesterday (my existing one is only 1.5 months old, lol.) and ran into that issue. My BP was 160/** when the first nurse tested me. About 30 minutes later, they tested me again. I was at 128/**.

 

Hi bubba, I hear 'ya. What NOT to do, is eat chocolate. When the doc was monitoring me for BP before meds (was right at the cutoff line), came in once, the doc said, your BP is off the scale, do you feel ok? I said yes, he said, what did you eat? I said a small bag of chocolate covered peanuts ( mmmm, chocolate covered peanuts). He said chocolate can make your BP go nuts.

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4354158]Hi bubba, I hear 'ya. What NOT to do, is eat chocolate. When the doc was monitoring me for BP before meds (was right at the cutoff line), came in once, the doc said, your BP is off the scale, do you feel ok? I said yes, he said, what did you eat? I said a small bag of chocolate covered peanuts ( mmmm, chocolate covered peanuts). He said chocolate can make your BP go nuts.[/QUOTE]

I have to admit that I was a bit concerned about the BP issue before I went in there. The day before...I didn't eat or drink anything sugary, salty, etc.

 

My back injury caused high blood pressure, went to the 160's...Dr gave me lusinopril to lower it enough to pass DOT PHYSICAL.

 

Does baby aspirin drop it a few points?

 

If you're worried about something like that, my advice would be to get to your primary care physician and have them put you on a medication to manage your BP (if you haven't already done that). My $.02...if you cheat just to get through the physical and you have a real need for medication...you (or someone around you) might pay for it down the line.

 

few months ago i think 4 i had my blood pressure taken was at 146 and for being 20 thats horrible. i ate a lot of fast food and love soda. i cut out soda out within last 3-4 months i had about 2 sodas and a few beers. did some exercise. cut back on fast food. for my dot physical blood pressure at first reading was 160 i was very nervous after maybe 20 mins the lady messured my blood pressure again and it was at 120. so cutting back on soda really did help me out and i think i'll continue to do the same