How To Lower Blood Pressure Before DOT Physical

Any suggestions on how to lower BP before my dot physical tomorrow? I'm a 37 year old smoker a little over weight I don't drink or use drugs ..my BP runs a tick over on my lower number than what dot allows and help would be appreciated

This topic gets a lot of views so I wanted to let everyone know we also have some great resources in our trucker's wiki:

Blood Pressure Requirements For The DOT Physical

Hypertension (high blood pressure) Regulations and Tips For Lowering Your Blood Pressure Before The DOT Physical

Unfortunately your asking the day before so some of the tricks won't help as much but caffeine will increase your BP, so stop right now, and don't have any caffeine until after your physical, cut back on your salt, and drink as much water as possible, will help flush your excess salt, and caffeine, and when your about to take the BP portion, calm down, close your eyes and just breathe slowly, It will help your stress level, and combined you might just slip under the requirements, and worst case they will likely give you a 2 month physical card, and require you to get BP medicine and retake it then.

Thanks for the help

The best remedy for BP is exercise! But with your physical tomorrow, that will not help. What is the DOT requirement anyway?

Quitting smoking will be your best remedy.

But besides that, here's a few tricks:

Lots of water.

Exercise.

Reduce the amount of stress you have.

On the morning of the test, do not eat anything heavy.

Laugh and smile more, especially during the visit. Social with others nearby will help you relax tremendously.

While she's beginning to take your reading, envision yourself fishing or on a vacation. Anything that defines "heaven on earth" for you. I envision me fishing with the sun rising - works for me. Think good thoughts!

140 over 90 limit

All the comments are right on...however, if you have high BP to begin with, it would be very wise to see your doc and take some meds...the meds are not only to maintain BP, but also a preventative from having a stroke! I surely would not want that to happen to you or anyone else!!! Especially being behind the wheel of a truck...that's for your safety AND others!!

#Takecareofyourself

Thanks free spirit. .I normally don't have high blood pressure I think it's just from being worried about getting everything done right so I can get this lifestyle rolling. .I was all worried for nothing I passed with flying colors even with having in mypast major back ssurgery 2 years ago and 2 knee surgeries this year ! But I'm like the bionic man and always determind I'm not going to let anything get In my way ..of having a healthy life and happiness of the open road. ..

CONGRATS TONY !!! now...on to the next thing...cross that hurdle off your list....focus, study, focus,..... You are doing such a great job getting this all lined out and taking it one thing at a time.....you sound like a WOMAN !!

I have a BP measuring device and I have experimented with it. How you react to having it taken has a lot to do with the results.

A nurse once told me to relax and think of something peaceful and happy....kind of like Happy Gilmore....go to a happy place. That's step one.

I caught myself restricting my breathing...not breathing freely. I did some more readings making sure to breathe like the doctor tells you to when he's listening to your heart with a stethoscope. The readings fell right into the normal range....below the 140/90 limits that trigger concern.

So that had nothing to do with meds, taking something to mask it, or the likes. It was only how I was behaving during the measurement.

So go to a happy place and breathe nice and deep slowly in and out. It does help.

Numbers before and after..... Before I was reading anywhere from 140-155/90-100...........After I saw it below 140 and below 90.

This also shows us how being revved up affects us. We have to learn to not get riled up, and to look at things and say, "This too shall pass. If this is the worst thing that happens to me today, then I'll be OK. There are much worse things that could happen."

If we do that along with keeping the diet in check and getting some exercise we will have gone a long way to improving our health.

Thanks everyone!