but now there are alleged anecdotal reports of airline pilots going on the same before a medical to mask blood pressure issues
Nothing new there. Go back quite a few decades and a well-known, and rather overweight, airline captain used to do the same thing .. hypertension or diabetes ... can't recall just which.
He tripped up when he went along to his DAME for whatever ailment ... said DAME noted that he was nearly due for his annual so suggested that they do it there and then to save time.
Career-ending move.