HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE GOOD OR BAD??

I have posted on here a few questions so far so here is my next one my blood pressure is usually high usually hypertension 1 or 2 i want to know if that will affect me in anyway during the DOT test???

If your blood pressure is over (about) 140/80, you won't pass your DOT physical. You may need to see your Dr. and go on hypertension meds...which would be good for you anyway...hypertension is a silent killer. You can take bp meds, and still drive truck, that isn't a problem...

We have truck drivers coming in to get medication for high blood pressure from our pharmacy. Our pharmacist says it's not a good thing to drive with high blood pressure if you have medication that you take for high blood pressure that's going to come up on the drug test and on the physical also. You have to be careful and talk to them about it, I can ask my pharmacist if there is anything you can take that won't affect your driving our anything.

Yeah, I've been known to say that most of the trucking industry runs on caffeine and blood pressure meds. Just speak with your doctor and get a prescription that will be ok for commercial driving. No big deal at all.

Hi Josh,

I, too, have hypertension. If you read over 140/80 when they do the physical exam, you're disco. And everybody knows THAT sucks!

If you are being treated for it with meds as I am and you pass the exam (as I have several times) you will get a DOT card good for one year and/or when you apply for a new driving job with a different company. At that time, you will need another exam every year until you're 1) no longer being treated for it or; 2) dead.

Tips for passing the BP test:

If you smoke cigarettes, don't have ANY for the 12 hours before the test. That goes for chew as well. Not easy, but if I can do it, anybody can!

Get plenty of rest the day/night before the test.

Relax - don't go in there stressed out or p_____ off. Deep breathing exercises help me. Divorce lawyers can also be helpful in some cases.

Make sure they do the urinalysis (pee in the cup) BEFORE the BP test. Nobody can maintain low BP when they have to pee like a race horse!

Don't eat greasy foods or drink alcohol for a couple three days before the exam.

Don't take any OTC cold remedy medications for a few days before the test. Almost all of them will raise your BP. If you have a cold, try not to sneeze on the nurse. They don't like that. But you'll just have to tough your way through it.

But that should do it for you if you really have it under control. Good luck!

Cheers, Howard

Great advice Howard !!!! you came up with quite a few tings that I hadn't thought of...and if it helps...its worth typing !!!! Keep up posting...helping other, by passing on your experiences...good or bad...is a great way to "pay it forward"...

You'r a good man, Charlie Brown

Hi Josh,

I, too, have hypertension. If you read over 140/80 when they do the physical exam, you're disco. And everybody knows THAT sucks!

If you are being treated for it with meds as I am and you pass the exam (as I have several times) you will get a DOT card good for one year and/or when you apply for a new driving job with a different company. At that time, you will need another exam every year until you're 1) no longer being treated for it or; 2) dead.

Tips for passing the BP test:

If you smoke cigarettes, don't have ANY for the 12 hours before the test. That goes for chew as well. Not easy, but if I can do it, anybody can!

Get plenty of rest the day/night before the test.

Relax - don't go in there stressed out or p_____ off. Deep breathing exercises help me. Divorce lawyers can also be helpful in some cases.

Make sure they do the urinalysis (pee in the cup) BEFORE the BP test. Nobody can maintain low BP when they have to pee like a race horse!

Don't eat greasy foods or drink alcohol for a couple three days before the exam.

Don't take any OTC cold remedy medications for a few days before the test. Almost all of them will raise your BP. If you have a cold, try not to sneeze on the nurse. They don't like that. But you'll just have to tough your way through it.

But that should do it for you if you really have it under control. Good luck!

Cheers, Howard

awesome thanks for the advice i appreciate it. im going to start working out also hoping that my high blood pressure may be caused by unhealthy habits such as fast food and not working out haha i checked my blood pressure today i was 146/86 it has been going down a bit tho thank god im still going to a doctor just to make sure by the time i go to school i will be 100 percent ready for this industry i cant wait to get on the road for a while i really need to get out of vegas for a while

Yeah, I've been known to say that most of the trucking industry runs on caffeine and blood pressure meds. Just speak with your doctor and get a prescription that will be ok for commercial driving. No big deal at all.

thanks brett i will be going to the doctor soon and getting checked.

We have truck drivers coming in to get medication for high blood pressure from our pharmacy. Our pharmacist says it's not a good thing to drive with high blood pressure if you have medication that you take for high blood pressure that's going to come up on the drug test and on the physical also. You have to be careful and talk to them about it, I can ask my pharmacist if there is anything you can take that won't affect your driving our anything.

hi olga B yes please ask i would really apppreciate it if you did thank you i have a doctors appointment friday so hopefully we get to the bottom of this and hopefully its just my unhealthy habits LOL

Just to clear something up here, the DOT threshold for blood pressure is 140/90, not 140/80. If you're on medication for it, you'll have to have your DOT physical annually instead of every 2 years, but as long as you come in under 140/90 you'll be fine. Just be sure to list all of your medications, including dosage and how often you take it, on the form.