how to prepare for medical 1 exam

[weelard]

hi
i live in vancouver canada
and i have been accepted in to the bcit commercial pilots program
have anybody been to this program or have any comments about it?
i will take the medical exam in about a month
i am 5"11-6"0 and about 230 pounds (yess ia m a little bit over weigh)
i have done some research and the only thing i am worried about is my blood pressure and the urine test.
i am working out everyday right now and eating healthy trying to lose some weight.
is there a blood test in the exam?
what do they look for in the urine test?
overall i am pretty healthy.
should i buy some detox pills and clear my system?
i heard that taking potassium pills will help me lower my blood pressure.

any help and tips will be greatly appreicated
thanks!!!!! i am excited to start my flying!

[Halfbaked_Boy]

Hello mate,

Nothing too much to worry about to be honest with you - you say you generally feel fit and healthy, that's a good sign straight away!

I'd avoid detox - instead of that, I'd reccommend what I did (and continue to do in the month leading up to my medicals), and that's to drink lots of water. Straight out the tap, boring old water - have ten or so glasses of that each day, every day before your medical. It really does help to clear out your system.

The other benefit to this, is it makes your pee look nice and clear with no signs of dehydration! While we're on the subject of pee, as far as I'm aware, they look primarily for any signs of blood in your urine, diabetes (although there is a separate 'finger prick' test for this), and any other bits and bobs that shouldn't be in it such as toxins and the like.

5'11" and 230 lbs is borderline obese on the BMI scale, but it is a very inaccurate form of measuring one's general state of health. For example, Arnold Schwarzenegger (at the peak of his 'career') was obese according to this measure. You'd probably find many ultra long distance athletes measuring as underweight as well.

Keep up with the weights, but here's a word of advice. I'm pretty familiar with this stuff because over the past three years I have turned a rather miserable looking body into, well, hehe :p. If you are overweight due to excess fat, it is best to work on losing that through cardio prior to weightlifting. You'll feel a whole lot better as well.

But that's just personal advice, and at your height and weight, there will be no problem as far as a Class 1 medical is concerned.

There is a finger prick blood test for diabetes and haemoglobin binding capacity (basically to check your body is able to absorb oxygen at higher altitudes).

Blood pressure - avoid fatty foods, if you smoke then cut down as much as you can, get on a treadmill for 30 mins a day or do any sports you're interested in. Anything that enhances your body's ability to run smooth, as they say. Also avoid red meats. If you eat 'green' (at least prior to your exam) and keep to white meats and no more than the reccommended amounts of dairy products, you won't go far wrong :ok:

Out of curiosity, why do you say you worry about your blood pressure and the urine test?

Jack

[weelard]

hi jack
thanks for the reply

i am worried about my urine and blood pressure because i think i my blood pressure might be slightly high due to my weight
and my urine because i have smoked marijuana in the past and i am worried that it might appear in my urine. i have stopped smoking marijuana now for about a month and by the time i take my medical it will be 2 months. will thc appear in my urine? will it affect me?

[TurningFinals]

I'm pretty sure drugs testing isnt part of the class one.

I think they are just testing for protein, blood and glucose.

Might have been smart to get of the dope a bit quicker though, and if you are planning on flying professionally, don't go back on it again!

[wskwong]

While we are on the topic of medical exam, know where I can get mine under hundred bucks in the lower mainland?

[nannodnai]

i live in vancouver canada
and i have been accepted in to the bcit commercial pilots program
have anybody been to this program or have any comments about it?
i will take the medical exam in about a month
i am 5"11-6"0 and about 230 pounds (yess ia m a little bit over weigh)
i have done some research and the only thing i am worried about is my blood pressure and the urine test.
i am working out everyday right now and eating healthy trying to lose some weight.
is there a blood test in the exam?

SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OVERWEIGHT, BUT LITTLE ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT. JAR MEDICAL INCLUDES FINGER PRICK FOR HAEMOGLOBIN, AND
LIPIDS AND LFT'S AT INITIAL CLASS ONE.

Oops, sorry about capitals - just noticed you prefer to do without them.