High blood pressure
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
High Blood Pressure
Does anyone know at what point your medical examiner deems blood pressure to be too high to fly with a Class 1 medical?
Mine has been commented on at my renewal exam as being "on the red line" and recently by my GP as being "mildly hypertensive" at 140/80 (I'm 38, tall and otherwise in good health). However in a spot check with my GP last week it was 149/80 and the doc started talking about controlling with drugs and has advised further weekly monitoring.
I'm in the middle of the ATPL ground course (probably not great for the blood pressure!) with airline ambitions. I'm keen to try and best judge the severity of this particular 'warning light' before thinking about 'diverting'.
Mine has been commented on at my renewal exam as being "on the red line" and recently by my GP as being "mildly hypertensive" at 140/80 (I'm 38, tall and otherwise in good health). However in a spot check with my GP last week it was 149/80 and the doc started talking about controlling with drugs and has advised further weekly monitoring.
I'm in the middle of the ATPL ground course (probably not great for the blood pressure!) with airline ambitions. I'm keen to try and best judge the severity of this particular 'warning light' before thinking about 'diverting'.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Dorset
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
[Non-medical reply here - where's QDMcubed when you need him??!!!]
I know that the more critical number when referring to blood pressure is the diastolic (second number). On my initial exam 6 yrs ago (as CAA Class 3), when my pressure was first taken, apparently the systolic was 135 and I was advised by my AME that it was close to borderline (he said that 140 was the number at which they looked more closely at the medical history). It was re-measured later in the test and was OK and has never been a problem since.
JAR FCL-3 states at P19 Para 3.135 (Class 1) and P28 Para 3.255 (Class 2) that for Class 1 and Class 2 'When the blood pressure at examination consistently exceeds 160mm Hg systolic or 95mm Hg diastolic, with or without treatment, the applicant shall be assessed as unfit.'
JAR FCL-3 Blood Pressure
Further detail is there about drug therapies.
The FAA Web site specifies their limits as 155 / 95.
[I have included a further paragraph in a Private Message to you, Loophole]
*Edited shortly after sending 'coz I'm a rubbish typist!!*
I know that the more critical number when referring to blood pressure is the diastolic (second number). On my initial exam 6 yrs ago (as CAA Class 3), when my pressure was first taken, apparently the systolic was 135 and I was advised by my AME that it was close to borderline (he said that 140 was the number at which they looked more closely at the medical history). It was re-measured later in the test and was OK and has never been a problem since.
JAR FCL-3 states at P19 Para 3.135 (Class 1) and P28 Para 3.255 (Class 2) that for Class 1 and Class 2 'When the blood pressure at examination consistently exceeds 160mm Hg systolic or 95mm Hg diastolic, with or without treatment, the applicant shall be assessed as unfit.'
JAR FCL-3 Blood Pressure
Further detail is there about drug therapies.
The FAA Web site specifies their limits as 155 / 95.
[I have included a further paragraph in a Private Message to you, Loophole]
*Edited shortly after sending 'coz I'm a rubbish typist!!*
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: USA
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Circuit Basher - from that useful info (and the JAR FCL document) it appears I can safely continue 'on course'.
I think I'll pull back on the pie and salt intake and rev up a bit on the biking just to be on the safe side.
I think I'll pull back on the pie and salt intake and rev up a bit on the biking just to be on the safe side.
Just another number
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UK
Age: 76
Posts: 1,077
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: delta.bc.canada
Posts: 259
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
At 65, my Doc' has just put me on ALTACE,initially at 2.5mg capsule. I was showing 155/95,it didn't do too much so we've double the dose alt days.Now showing 137/88(varies)..
But the industry seem to be putting guys onto this stuff in Canada now at the drop of a hat. The Yardstick is to get to 135/85...
It also reduces the chances of Heart Attack 60%...
You can still fly with this medicine...
Cheers......
But the industry seem to be putting guys onto this stuff in Canada now at the drop of a hat. The Yardstick is to get to 135/85...
It also reduces the chances of Heart Attack 60%...
You can still fly with this medicine...
Cheers......
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My blood pressure is somewhat strange... 140/60 so highish on the 1st one, and low on the second. What does this mean as it has been puzzling me for ages. More over, will I be able to get a Class 1 with it?
Cheers
Crazy
Cheers
Crazy
Last edited by crazypilot; 2nd Dec 2002 at 19:15.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My blood pressure is somewhat strange... 140/60 so highish on the 1st one, and low on the second. What does this mean as it has been puzzling me for ages.
By the by, there are two main causes of a large split (known as the pulse pressure) between the systolic (1st reading) and diastolic (2nd reading). The first is hardening of the arteries which can occur in older people. This gives a very high systolic reading and you may see a BP of the order of 210/80. The other cause is incompetence of the aortic valve. Without going into the physiology of the cardiac cycle, this means that very large volumes of blood are being ejected from the left ventricle, only to cascade rapidly back through the leaky aortic valve. This will give a similar blood pressure, although the pulse has a very particular characteristic and the findings are obvious on listening to the heart and, clearly, on echocardiography.
The debate about what is a 'normal' blood pressure is an interesting one. Basically, there isn't a normal blood pressure. There is a continuum of blood pressure from very low to very high and the higher it is the greater the cardiovascular risk which attaches to it. The thresholds for treatment are coming down all the time, as the data we have get better and better, hence the 'normal' comes down all the time. There must be a limit, however, and I'd be surprised if blood pressures of 135/85 or below will ever be treated.
QDM
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Newcastle/UK
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
High blood pressure
Err, where did Drapes post this?,waddus moved mean?, Drapes thunk he posted this in JB, is drapes going senile as well as having high blood pressure?
Whats the significance of high disystolic pressure?
Drapes systolic pressure seems ok forra old codger,conciderin the life of debaunchery and excess he once lived, around 120/ 130 ,but the distolic thingy alus seems a tad high, betwixt 80 and 95.
Drapes got one of they blood pressure machines, an been takin his blood pressure a few times a day.
Is it worth Drapes gettin his puter upgraded, or payin back folks munny he owes em?
Does it mean that Drapes old ticker blows ok, but is runnin out of suck?
One needs to know these things before planning anything long term, indeed , is it worth startin another long thread with Tricky Woo,since we solved the problem of the human mind and memory, Drapes was gonna start a thread on his unified field theory, is it worth it one asks?.
Whats the significance of high disystolic pressure?
Drapes systolic pressure seems ok forra old codger,conciderin the life of debaunchery and excess he once lived, around 120/ 130 ,but the distolic thingy alus seems a tad high, betwixt 80 and 95.
Drapes got one of they blood pressure machines, an been takin his blood pressure a few times a day.
Is it worth Drapes gettin his puter upgraded, or payin back folks munny he owes em?
Does it mean that Drapes old ticker blows ok, but is runnin out of suck?
One needs to know these things before planning anything long term, indeed , is it worth startin another long thread with Tricky Woo,since we solved the problem of the human mind and memory, Drapes was gonna start a thread on his unified field theory, is it worth it one asks?.
Last edited by tony draper; 10th Feb 2003 at 22:01.
A high diastolic pressure aint good. Because it is the phase of the cardiac cycle is supposed to be 'resting'
Go see a good cardiologist. Be prepared to take on some changes.
Remember some tables can take any size laying down, and you dont move of your own will!
Go see a good cardiologist. Be prepared to take on some changes.
Remember some tables can take any size laying down, and you dont move of your own will!
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Newcastle/UK
Posts: 1,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh Drapes is getting treatment for high blood pressure, the sistolic has come down a lot, its this other buggah thats got me beat, they have also took Drapes off the colesterol donor list.
Last edited by tony draper; 10th Feb 2003 at 23:21.
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cholesterol is important, but equally important are triglycerides, which (as I understand) are carbohydrates your body has converted for short term "storage," and regulated by insulin. As I understand it, some people lose their sensitivity to insulin, and the triglyceride level starts going haywire. The name for this is hyperinsulinemia, and sometimes called "Syndrome X."
Probably will need to start taking more pills but - you gotta start exercising and cut waay back on the carbohydrates.
Probably will need to start taking more pills but - you gotta start exercising and cut waay back on the carbohydrates.
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Dorset
Posts: 902
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Drapes - this is not a medically qualified opinion, but a systolic of 120 - 130 over a diastolic of 80 - 95 doesn't sound anything like time for the blues and twos (maybe following good self maintenance techniques as per the advice offered would do some good). I don't believe that an AME would even blink at those sort of numbers (for a Class 2, anyway).
My wife (who has owned horses most of her life, with all the exercise that involves) has just about stabilised after an 18 month stretch of high blood pressure. ISTR the worst measurement of her BP was 220 / 115, which maybe indicates the perspective I've got!!
My wife (who has owned horses most of her life, with all the exercise that involves) has just about stabilised after an 18 month stretch of high blood pressure. ISTR the worst measurement of her BP was 220 / 115, which maybe indicates the perspective I've got!!
Victim of Blackmailing Scouser
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Zürich, Switzerland (But a Brit)
Age: 59
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Herr D, I'm afraid you're gonna die... in twenty or thirty years from now.
Time to come to terms with it. Hmm, think you recently wrote that you go for the oblivion theory of death. A bit bleak, mate. Considering a rethink?
TW
Time to come to terms with it. Hmm, think you recently wrote that you go for the oblivion theory of death. A bit bleak, mate. Considering a rethink?
TW
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Brighton, UK
Posts: 27
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you are genuinely worried check out the following link
Blood Pressure
120/80 is completely average. The first number should be below 100+age (I'm 31, so 100+31=131), and the second number should be below 100.
The difference between the Systolic (first number), and Diastolic (second number) is called pulse pressure. That shows how health your arteries and blood vessels are. (I'm not sure how)
Hope this helps
Blood Pressure
120/80 is completely average. The first number should be below 100+age (I'm 31, so 100+31=131), and the second number should be below 100.
The difference between the Systolic (first number), and Diastolic (second number) is called pulse pressure. That shows how health your arteries and blood vessels are. (I'm not sure how)
Hope this helps
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Age: 76
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blacksheep's BP was 180/110 and medication was prescribed. Then came a spell in Nepal where pills were hard to come by, so the old Ram stopped taking the pills. Not long afterwards, Blacksheep became a quivering heap, clutching his chest and gasping for breath. An infusion of Heparin and a spell in the CCU brought the old fart back to life, then a double bypass put the ticker back in working order. I never forget me pills any more and the BP is 130/80, this being considered excellent going for an old sheep. The old sheep's Doctor says a systolic that remains consistently above 140, or a diastolic that remains consistently above 90 (or both at the same time), may be a cause for concern. At 130/85 you've not got much to worry about, but since you obviously are worried anyway, pop off to the doctors, have a well man (or well sheep) check up and keep taking the pills. Whey aye tony - you'll be arl reet, man.
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
**************************
Through difficulties to the cinema
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: New South Wales
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BP is more or less a continuum and in a sense there is no 'normal' blood pressure (or at least what is 'normal' is constantly changing), merely lower blood pressures which confer correspondingly less risk of heart attacks, strokes and what-have-you. In non-diabetic hypertensive people, the treatment aim is a BP below 140/85, with 150/90 being acceptable. To achieve 140/85 can sometimes take a combination of three drugs in my experience.
Click on 'Resources' and then the Third working party guidelines at www.bhsoc.org for more info. You'll find the summary at the beginning contains most of what you want to know. Sounds like your BP isn't too drastic though.
QDM
Click on 'Resources' and then the Third working party guidelines at www.bhsoc.org for more info. You'll find the summary at the beginning contains most of what you want to know. Sounds like your BP isn't too drastic though.
QDM
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: The bit of the UK thats always cloudy
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cut out salt and alcohol only in moderation. Usual sensible diet changes (eg low fat spread instead of butter etc etc) Plenty of cardio vascular exercise and most important of all lots of sex!
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
QDM
With respect, I cannot see why 140/85 is the BP to aim for.
The requirement for a class 1 medical is a BP less than 160/95.
(JAR-FCL 3.135(b))
The side effects of anti-hypertensive drugs can be extremely unpleasant.
With respect, I cannot see why 140/85 is the BP to aim for.
The requirement for a class 1 medical is a BP less than 160/95.
(JAR-FCL 3.135(b))
The side effects of anti-hypertensive drugs can be extremely unpleasant.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Job Centre
Age: 74
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Speaking as a victim, not a doctor -
High blood pressure might (in a minority of cases) be caused by pre-existing unpleasantness in amongst the offal
- so get good advice!
High blood pressure, if present for a long time, WILL cause unpleasantness in the heart and / or in the head and / or in the blood vessels.
You are very unlikely to realise yourself that your blood pressure is high - a VERY good reason to pay your AME's bill with a smile.
Often, high blood pressure responds very well to medication, with zero side effects (as I live and breathe).
You might, if you are very unusual, reduce your blood pressure a little bit by taking careful thought and relaxation therapy.
You are more likely to benefit from zero salt, slashed caffeine, reduce alcohol from a bottle a day to a glass a day, forget the burgers and chocolate bars, give up the fudge cake and the fresh (or any other) cream, "pass" on the cheese, take up the lettuce and fruit salad, and as an antidote to all that misery, you're encouraged to do something which makes you pant for half an hour, five days a week, provided it's not so energetic that it brings on the heart attack / stroke you were trying to avoid in the first place.
One thing I've been advised NOT to do is give up taking the tablets now I've started, since "they" say that although your BP may be down, if it goes up again the simple treatments are much less likely to work next time.
SD
High blood pressure might (in a minority of cases) be caused by pre-existing unpleasantness in amongst the offal
- so get good advice!High blood pressure, if present for a long time, WILL cause unpleasantness in the heart and / or in the head and / or in the blood vessels.
You are very unlikely to realise yourself that your blood pressure is high - a VERY good reason to pay your AME's bill with a smile.
Often, high blood pressure responds very well to medication, with zero side effects (as I live and breathe).
You might, if you are very unusual, reduce your blood pressure a little bit by taking careful thought and relaxation therapy.
You are more likely to benefit from zero salt, slashed caffeine, reduce alcohol from a bottle a day to a glass a day, forget the burgers and chocolate bars, give up the fudge cake and the fresh (or any other) cream, "pass" on the cheese, take up the lettuce and fruit salad, and as an antidote to all that misery, you're encouraged to do something which makes you pant for half an hour, five days a week, provided it's not so energetic that it brings on the heart attack / stroke you were trying to avoid in the first place.
One thing I've been advised NOT to do is give up taking the tablets now I've started, since "they" say that although your BP may be down, if it goes up again the simple treatments are much less likely to work next time.
SD