Blood Pressure
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Blood Pressure
Hi
I am going to take my Class 1 medical in January and wondered if you could give me some advice?
Having been under a fair amount of stress lately I decided to buy myself a clinically validated blood pressure monitor. When I test my blood pressure in the evening after sitting down and chilling for half hour, my readings are around 130/80. I understand this to be normal. When I am at my busiest and most stressful part of the day it increases to about 140/90, and occasionally upto 150/100 if I am under a great deal of pressure (I do drink decafeineted coffee quite alot during the day but would this affect my blood pressure)? If I go and sit in my car and relax for 5-10mins i can usually get it back down to 140/90 and it always drops back to 130/80-90 in the evenings.
In the morning when I wake up it is usually 130/80 although I have occasionally seen it at 145/80-85. My resting heart rate is usually about 65-70 but can increase to 80 during the day.
I know that at home my BP is normal, but should it stay this level throughout the day?? or is it normal to increase when under pressure from work and moving about etc. I keep fit with vigorous exercise, and cycle to work at least twice a week (7 miles each way which takes me 30 mins).
I know you cant offer prognosis over the internet like this but do you think my blood pressure is ok?
cheers
I am going to take my Class 1 medical in January and wondered if you could give me some advice?
Having been under a fair amount of stress lately I decided to buy myself a clinically validated blood pressure monitor. When I test my blood pressure in the evening after sitting down and chilling for half hour, my readings are around 130/80. I understand this to be normal. When I am at my busiest and most stressful part of the day it increases to about 140/90, and occasionally upto 150/100 if I am under a great deal of pressure (I do drink decafeineted coffee quite alot during the day but would this affect my blood pressure)? If I go and sit in my car and relax for 5-10mins i can usually get it back down to 140/90 and it always drops back to 130/80-90 in the evenings.
In the morning when I wake up it is usually 130/80 although I have occasionally seen it at 145/80-85. My resting heart rate is usually about 65-70 but can increase to 80 during the day.
I know that at home my BP is normal, but should it stay this level throughout the day?? or is it normal to increase when under pressure from work and moving about etc. I keep fit with vigorous exercise, and cycle to work at least twice a week (7 miles each way which takes me 30 mins).
I know you cant offer prognosis over the internet like this but do you think my blood pressure is ok?
cheers
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Mumraaa
I'm not an expert, but you seem to be perfectly normal. Think about it logically: Your blood pressure HAS to fluctuate during any 24 hour period, in fact it fluctuates continuously as you go about your every day activities. You would be dead if it didn't!
Optimised blood pressure is defined by the measurements 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, but as said above will fluctuate. The true test for hypertension (deemed by the CAA to be 140 over 95 or higher), is when an individual continuously records a high reading, even when relaxing.
If you are concerned, you can ask for 24 hour pressure monitoring. This can be a little invasive, but will be worth it if it puts your mind at rest.
Interestingly, it always use to be thought that the most important reading was the diastolic, (the force exerted through the arteries when the heart is at rest), but recent evidence has also shown a high systolic reading, (when the heart is actively pumping), to be just as damaging.
To summarise, doesn't sound like you've got much to worry about, wish I was as fit as you sound!. BUT if you're really worried before a test, there are a few things you can do.
1. Don't eat during the day before the test
2. Take an asprin an hour before the test
3. On a long term basis, take garlic, with active anicillin, (the ingredient in garlic that is beneficial to the cardiovascular system)
I know I will probably be admonished for advocating garlic, but it's harmless if you're worried, (or borderline).
Obviously for true hypertension, you must be medically treated to avoid any future complications to your health
FD
I'm not an expert, but you seem to be perfectly normal. Think about it logically: Your blood pressure HAS to fluctuate during any 24 hour period, in fact it fluctuates continuously as you go about your every day activities. You would be dead if it didn't!
Optimised blood pressure is defined by the measurements 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, but as said above will fluctuate. The true test for hypertension (deemed by the CAA to be 140 over 95 or higher), is when an individual continuously records a high reading, even when relaxing.
If you are concerned, you can ask for 24 hour pressure monitoring. This can be a little invasive, but will be worth it if it puts your mind at rest.
Interestingly, it always use to be thought that the most important reading was the diastolic, (the force exerted through the arteries when the heart is at rest), but recent evidence has also shown a high systolic reading, (when the heart is actively pumping), to be just as damaging.
To summarise, doesn't sound like you've got much to worry about, wish I was as fit as you sound!. BUT if you're really worried before a test, there are a few things you can do.
1. Don't eat during the day before the test
2. Take an asprin an hour before the test
3. On a long term basis, take garlic, with active anicillin, (the ingredient in garlic that is beneficial to the cardiovascular system)
I know I will probably be admonished for advocating garlic, but it's harmless if you're worried, (or borderline).
Obviously for true hypertension, you must be medically treated to avoid any future complications to your health
FD
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mumraaa,
CAA limits are actually 160/95, so you don't need to worry about your Class 1. And as Firedragon has said, it's normal for blood pressure to fluctuate...due to exercise, stress, and just at different times of day, usually being lowest when you're asleep. If the search function is working, there have been quite a few threads on this before; have a look, but you definitely don't need to worry as far as your Class 1 is concerned.
CAA limits are actually 160/95, so you don't need to worry about your Class 1. And as Firedragon has said, it's normal for blood pressure to fluctuate...due to exercise, stress, and just at different times of day, usually being lowest when you're asleep. If the search function is working, there have been quite a few threads on this before; have a look, but you definitely don't need to worry as far as your Class 1 is concerned.
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Thanks for your replies. I am going to keep a daily record of my BP until I take my class 1 in January. Do you think this will help my cause if my blood pressure is high at the time of the test? I do get real nervous when the doc takes my BP. I tested it this morning and it was 125/83 and that was after a cuppa.
Also, I do get a bit nervous when taking passengers. Once I've started the engines I'm fine as I have plenty to do to keep my mind occupied. But, I do get the butterflies before a flight (unless its local and perfect weather) and I have passengers. Do many pilots get the same? Presumably this will increase my BP when i have the butterflies but dont want go taking my BP in front of my passengers!! that may worry them slightly me thinks! ha ha. quite a funny thougth tho!
Also, I do get a bit nervous when taking passengers. Once I've started the engines I'm fine as I have plenty to do to keep my mind occupied. But, I do get the butterflies before a flight (unless its local and perfect weather) and I have passengers. Do many pilots get the same? Presumably this will increase my BP when i have the butterflies but dont want go taking my BP in front of my passengers!! that may worry them slightly me thinks! ha ha. quite a funny thougth tho!
Mumraa, remember to keep some sense of proportion about this. BP is just part of the bigger picture. Yes, constantly raised BP is a risk factor for lots of nasty things, but it is usually taken in the context of other variables, such as smoking, weight, family history, cholesterol level etc.
Remember also, the medical dept. is there to pass you, not to try and trip you up.
Chill out and good luck !
PS I'd be a bit wary about taking anything other than deep breaths and an empty bladder, in an attempt to fiddle the test, you never know, it may trip you up !
Remember also, the medical dept. is there to pass you, not to try and trip you up.
Chill out and good luck !
PS I'd be a bit wary about taking anything other than deep breaths and an empty bladder, in an attempt to fiddle the test, you never know, it may trip you up !
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Monitoring your own BP so often will not help matters. You would only need to check it a couple of times a week, and even that might be too much. Checking it so much will only add to your stress levels and raise the BP.
Having spoken to the CAA myself on medical matters they can be very helpful and reassuring, but from what you have said I can't see that you will have any worries.
Having spoken to the CAA myself on medical matters they can be very helpful and reassuring, but from what you have said I can't see that you will have any worries.
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How much does drinking affect your BP?- I accept that heavy consumption will be a problem but does moderate drinking pose a problem and does no booze at all before your class one medical help?
Also can anybody confirm the CAA limits at the moment and which drug do they suggest for treatment and what limitations do they impose should a problem be identified?
thanks
Also can anybody confirm the CAA limits at the moment and which drug do they suggest for treatment and what limitations do they impose should a problem be identified?
thanks
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AA,
Have a look up at the earlier posts, yup up there, you can see that a link was posted and this gives the values.
JAR 160/95.
With regards to your question about drinking. I take it you mean alcoholic beverages?
There is evidence which states that if you are a bloke and drink over 28 units per week or a girl and drink over 21 units per week, you are endangering your long term health.
HTH
FD
Have a look up at the earlier posts, yup up there, you can see that a link was posted and this gives the values.
JAR 160/95.
With regards to your question about drinking. I take it you mean alcoholic beverages?
There is evidence which states that if you are a bloke and drink over 28 units per week or a girl and drink over 21 units per week, you are endangering your long term health.
HTH
FD
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Interesting. My blood pressure is always pretty low. I tested it a couple of weeks ago (right in the busy season) and it was 93/76.
You often hear about high blood pressure but what about the effects of low blood pressure? Do the CAA have lower limits? I understand that 100-140 is normal, therefore I am under that.
How can blood pressure be increased? Or am I naturally chilled out?!!!!
You often hear about high blood pressure but what about the effects of low blood pressure? Do the CAA have lower limits? I understand that 100-140 is normal, therefore I am under that.
How can blood pressure be increased? Or am I naturally chilled out?!!!!
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As long as you don't pass out, having a low blood pressure in an otherwise healthy individual is not a problem.
re alcohol -- in excess it is a significant causative factor in high BP.
QDM
re alcohol -- in excess it is a significant causative factor in high BP.
QDM
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Well...
In addition to officially having White Coat Hypertension (now down on one of my medical forms) I now apparently probably have "labile" blood pressure (I think that's what he said; is that right QDM?). At my medical a few days ago, my blood pressure measured 160/60. My AME glared at me and said: "Why is your blood pressure always so high when I take it". I said: "Because I'm totally paranoid about having it taken". Anyway, he looked back at my records, and said the diastolic of 60 was the lowest it ever seemed to have been. I agreed, and told him when I take my bp myself, it varies dramatically for no apparent reason. Hence the new label.
All medics here, please excuse me if I say that I now think deducing anything from blood pressure measurements is a complete load of ****e!!!!!!!!!!
In addition to officially having White Coat Hypertension (now down on one of my medical forms) I now apparently probably have "labile" blood pressure (I think that's what he said; is that right QDM?). At my medical a few days ago, my blood pressure measured 160/60. My AME glared at me and said: "Why is your blood pressure always so high when I take it". I said: "Because I'm totally paranoid about having it taken". Anyway, he looked back at my records, and said the diastolic of 60 was the lowest it ever seemed to have been. I agreed, and told him when I take my bp myself, it varies dramatically for no apparent reason. Hence the new label.
All medics here, please excuse me if I say that I now think deducing anything from blood pressure measurements is a complete load of ****e!!!!!!!!!!
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Whirly,
Your experience typifies the difficulty in effectively applying population-wide statistics (overall, higher BPs correlate with higher death rates), to the individual, such as yourself.
In general it is certainly true to say that a lower BP correlates with a lower death rate. Applying that to the individual, however, and making treatment (or no treatment) decisions, requires as much art and alchemy as it does science.
QDM
Your experience typifies the difficulty in effectively applying population-wide statistics (overall, higher BPs correlate with higher death rates), to the individual, such as yourself.
In general it is certainly true to say that a lower BP correlates with a lower death rate. Applying that to the individual, however, and making treatment (or no treatment) decisions, requires as much art and alchemy as it does science.
QDM
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Bloodpressure is a very dynamic value and especially the systolic value is very susceptible to every day activities.
Those activities which we find relaxing result in the measurement of lower values and those which are strenuous (either physical or mental) make the values go up.
The diastolic (or lower) figure is more stable and was therefore in the past regarded as the 'true' significant value.
Over recent (five or so) years it has transpired that long term health is not only dependent on a good (i.e below 80-85mmHg) diastolic bloodpressure but equally on a good (i.e. below 140-145) systolic blood pressure.
More recent it transpires that those who have higher bps when they are taken in formal settings, despite having normal bps during the rest of the day, actually are probably more at risk of developing high blood pressures.
A study comparing treatment of people based upon surgery readings vs. ambulatory readings (taken by 24 hour bp monitors) showed that by going on the more favourable (lower) ambulatory readings resulted in an undertreatment of this group.
Good things to do to ensure that your bp will stay in the desirable range are:
Control your weight; make sure you don't stem from a family of hypertensives(!); limit the intake of dietary salt; exercise; don't smoke; moderate alcohol intake; live stress free and.........
Have fun!
FD
Those activities which we find relaxing result in the measurement of lower values and those which are strenuous (either physical or mental) make the values go up.
The diastolic (or lower) figure is more stable and was therefore in the past regarded as the 'true' significant value.
Over recent (five or so) years it has transpired that long term health is not only dependent on a good (i.e below 80-85mmHg) diastolic bloodpressure but equally on a good (i.e. below 140-145) systolic blood pressure.
More recent it transpires that those who have higher bps when they are taken in formal settings, despite having normal bps during the rest of the day, actually are probably more at risk of developing high blood pressures.
A study comparing treatment of people based upon surgery readings vs. ambulatory readings (taken by 24 hour bp monitors) showed that by going on the more favourable (lower) ambulatory readings resulted in an undertreatment of this group.
Good things to do to ensure that your bp will stay in the desirable range are:
Control your weight; make sure you don't stem from a family of hypertensives(!); limit the intake of dietary salt; exercise; don't smoke; moderate alcohol intake; live stress free and.........
Have fun!
FD
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Hmm..............
Flyin'Dutch, I've been thinking about all that....
Stress causes blood pressure to go up. If we want to keep it down, we should, as you say, "live stress free".
Some people find having their blood pressure taken stressful, so much so that White Coat Hypertension is a wellknown phenomenon.
If the above is true, it follows logically that doctors are actually causing such people to develop high blood pressure, by consistently taking it and monitoring it, and therefore putting such people under stress?
Is this a drug company plot or what?
Flyin'Dutch, I've been thinking about all that....
Stress causes blood pressure to go up. If we want to keep it down, we should, as you say, "live stress free".
Some people find having their blood pressure taken stressful, so much so that White Coat Hypertension is a wellknown phenomenon.
More recent it transpires that those who have higher bps when they are taken in formal settings, despite having normal bps during the rest of the day, actually are probably more at risk of developing high blood pressures.
Is this a drug company plot or what?
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Hi Whirly,
Well no. At least not that I am aware off!
I think it is important to keep in mind that the visit to the doc is not the causative factor merely a situation which is perceived to be stressful for those subjects with WCH.
And in those folks, it transpires, their bp is likely to go up in other stressful situations, more so than in non-WCHs.
To prove input -> result relations is notoriously difficult.
FD
Well no. At least not that I am aware off!
I think it is important to keep in mind that the visit to the doc is not the causative factor merely a situation which is perceived to be stressful for those subjects with WCH.
And in those folks, it transpires, their bp is likely to go up in other stressful situations, more so than in non-WCHs.
To prove input -> result relations is notoriously difficult.
FD
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Generally, resting BP below 140/80, and mid-day heart rate of 70-75 are the median and regarded as normal, otherwise 2/3 of the population have to go on diet! But for a distance runner they're more like 110-20/65-70 and HR of 55, and a resting (morning) HR of about 40! They are like the sports cars that have a very low idle RPM and can rev-up to high RPMs quickly and maintain that for a while. The rest are four door sedans with a very narrow RPM band! Don't forget the lower the BP/HR, the less the heart is working to pump blood. If the heart rate is always 80 for instance, at 45 the heart is more like 55-60 (30-35% more work). Max heart rate is about 220-age (in years). At peak exercise/activity, one should be able to maintain 80-85% MHR for a few minutes. At MHR, heart may stop!
The health-nuts say if your BP is higher than 110-20/65-70 (male) 95-110/50-60 (female) and HR higher than 60-65, then you're always reving your engine while stopped at the light. True you may pass the medical, but slightly high BP/HR may be signs of trouble to come. Cut-down on meat, alcohol, salt, stress; stay away from fat and smokes; and run/jog/fast walk half hour a day. You lose weight, HR/BP, and never worry about the darn medicals anymore!
The health-nuts say if your BP is higher than 110-20/65-70 (male) 95-110/50-60 (female) and HR higher than 60-65, then you're always reving your engine while stopped at the light. True you may pass the medical, but slightly high BP/HR may be signs of trouble to come. Cut-down on meat, alcohol, salt, stress; stay away from fat and smokes; and run/jog/fast walk half hour a day. You lose weight, HR/BP, and never worry about the darn medicals anymore!
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How come I have a high-normal BP, and a very low heart rate - so much so it was mentioned on the print-out for my ECG, but the AME said not to worry? When I used to be really fit my BP was about the same, and my heart rate even lower, well below 50 if I remember rightly. No-one ever seemed to know why.
Now do you understand why I take this stuff with the proverbial pinch of salt?
Now do you understand why I take this stuff with the proverbial pinch of salt?