New BP standards

Nothing has changed.

They are only asking physicians to take action to lower BP sooner than later.

“Maybe we’ll give tubby the truck driver some dietary advice before his BP really becomes a priority.”

Below BP guidelines haven’t changed one bit and until they do change what’s acceptable for each category it’s a big nothingburger.

• Normal: Less than 120 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic.
• Elevated: 120–129 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.
• Stage 1 hypertension: 130–139 mm Hg systolic or 80–89 mm Hg diastolic.
• Stage 2 hypertension: 140 mm Hg or more systolic or 90 mm Hg or more diastolic
• Normal is still normal, elevated is still elevated etc etc.

 

Your BP is elevated so the new guidelines suggest that your primary (not DOT doc) physician be proactive about it.
Could just mean that they’ll suggest certain changes in your diet or lifestyle.

 

For sure, they will say "you need to quit smoking".

 

Truth to the matter is that heavy smokers like us have already built up a tolerance to the blood pressure increases…Smoking no longer affects our BP. Your Dr already knows this but they aren’t going to tell you anything other than quitting.
Our big issue, mine for sure is blood oxygen saturation levels. At sea level like now I’m reading 92-93 which is bad…90 or lower you best be thinking to head off to the ER.

At altitudes above 4K I struggle, at 8k like Laramie in Wyoming I’m in complete distress if I stop for a ten. I’m okay sitting but walking across a windy lot kicks my butt.

While I joke around about my smoking vs BP what isn’t a joke is my blood oxygen. I’m one parking lot away from a heart attack..

Low 90’s is dizziness and confusion territory, below 90 and you’re going to be fitted for an oxygen tank

 

Ahh, me too, with the higher altitudes. I thought it was all in my head, but I guess for us smokers it really can be a little worse. For me it is sometimes harder to breathe, I will notice I am breathing rapidly sometimes. I agree, about the doctors just touting to quit, they want to blame cigarettes for everything. You could stub your toe and break it at night and go to the ER and the doctor will say it wouldn't hurt so bad or wouldn't have broken if you didn't smoke. I have some other health issues to that doctors think is due to smoking, but I think its due to other things. That's a whole other can of worms, though.

 

Lol, I need a full pack just with my morning coffee.

 

Nope, not in your head. Just in Laramie 8k feet is almost 6% less oxygen.
It’s also the reason that I don’t cross travel I-70 in Colorado in the winter.

 

I’m a big advocate for lowering your blood pressure, but I believe in doing it naturally. That said. 120/70 or below as a new standard is going to be a pretty hard pill to swallow especially when it’s taken in a doctors office setting. Not many people are going to achieve that. Especially in this industry. Even people who are very fit. I feel like there’s some kind of ulterior motive behind this, but that’s just me. Now I can get these readings easily at home. When I’m relaxed and in my own environment, but I can almost guarantee you I’m not gonna get that reading sitting at a doctors office. And neither are most of you.