Not a pilot, not aircrew but my job requires me to pass a medical annually.
I was first diagnosed as hypertensive in 1974 and put on a diet to lose weight, having stopped smoking a year before and discovered the delights of eating.

The diet worked and my BP normalised until, in 1979 it was found to be raised again and I started on medication (beta blockers). Since then I've been through the different stages of medical thinking as described by Ginger, of one agent dosage increased until effective, and later a mixture of several agents at a lower dosage. I chose to follow the doc's instructions and I'm still working 30 years later.

It's ok to say "the tablets can wait till Monday" but sooner or later you have to decide to take them or not. Either you do take your medicine and continue a normal working life or find that at your next medical, or the one after, the choice may be taken out of your hands.

If you do start on the prescribed medication then of course your GP will need to see you after a couple of weeks to check what effect the treatment is having on your BP and if you are noticing any side effects. He/she may want to change the treatment to another agent or a higher dosage so a period of monitoring is essential.

What is absolutely certain is that you need to have your BP controlled and if it means a lifetime on medication, so be it. What is equally certain is that hypertension won't just go away.

s37

"physician, heal thyself " . . . . . . . . .
 

How very true that is ! I'm an example myself of how pilots can benefit from the regular medicals required to keep a licence. I'm now on BP treatment, but only after the hypertension was found five years ago by my own AME, while doing the medical for my own PPL ( no, I can't do my own ! ). If I had not had a pilot's licence I might not have known to this day that BP was raised - it causes ZERO symptoms !

whirlybird
Do you save time and trouble by doing that trip in your R 22 ? I've often wondered if one of those could be landed in my back garden ! !

AMEandPPL,

I could very likely land an R22 in your back garden...depending on its size of course. However, since I became an instructor I'm too poor to fly unless I get paid! And no-one's going to pay me to fly to see my AME, so I have to use the motorways like everyone else.:(

coming round full circle . . . . . . . . !
 

I'm sure you could, and it sure would be fun to try !

You would be first candidate EVER to arrive by air ! ! LOL

The garden is quite large, not very many trees in vicinity ;

but there is a significant slope, which might just put your blood pressure up a bit . . . . . .

. . . . . . which is what this thread was all about to begin with !

So if his bp is 220/120mmHg, would you make him walk home?

Or would it be ok if he supervised me flying it?:)

naturally . . . . . . . . !
 

Of course ! JAR limits quite clear, 160 / 90 max. LOL !

Just for the record, I'm not a 'He'; I'm one of the other lot (ie Whirly-BIRD).

But in that situation he'd still probably make me walk home.:(

I stand corrected-Apologies:)

You're probably seen as being "borderline" by your quack.

Try and nudge the numbers down by engaging in some lifestyle interventions.

I would have thought so, keep us posted for future reference.


24 hr readings aren't generally that helpful, but it sounds like people are going out of their way to get you a "pass"

Good luck.

Blood Pressure query
 

I’m due to re-validate my C1 Medical in March, however, whilst using the ‘home’ BP machine; I have observed my BP fluctuate over the course of two weeks, in fact hours. The very fist reading was 140/103, and a pulse of 73. The following recordings have been lower in the 135/90 – 124/80 range. However, at each sitting I have noticed my pulse rate to be at around the mid 80s. Usual it is the lower BP figure that is high, ‘/90’ even when the upper figure is low ‘125/’. Although, I don’t smoke, or consume a great deal of alcohol, other them the occasional glass of red wine, I don’t exercise or consume a very good diet! I'm 6ft and 15st

Are these figures enough to warrant a fail on the medical, furthermore, can anyone advise what I can do to remedy this issue without medication. Or have I allowed things to get out of hand…?

Rugbyears, your blood pressure should be no reason to fail your C1 medical. My blood pressure was a lot higher then yours and I still passed my C1 medical.

Had a 24 hour blood pressure monitor and average blood pressure was still a bit on the high side. AME adviced to go on medication if I still plan on keeping flying for another 25/30 years.

According to my AME and the specialist in hospital there was no other option then using medication. Even losing a bit of weight (I am 1.80m and 84Kgs) wouldn't make a diffrence. However I stand to be corrected, not a doctor myself and can only relay what my AME has said.

At 32 those numbers wouldn't freak anyone out, but you'd definitely get diet and lifestyle advice, with possibly some form of medication if that didn't do the trick.

At the height of my pizza powers (in my mid 20's, working 60+ hours on shifts) I was 6 foot, 15 1/2 stone, BP regularly 130something/ 90 something with a pulse of about 90. Diet and exercise sorted me out, no need for pills.


Would the readings you relate lead to a failed medical? Dunno, at 32 with those numbers, you're still low risk for e.g. strokes etc. Will you be getting a re-validation locally? If so, why not have a chat with your AME.

Oh, and I should point out that the quality of home kit for stuff like BP, blood tests etc can be quite variable. It might be of more use to get it checked at your surgery, where you can also get a bit of advice about risk etc.

Liking your other posts btw. Eloquent. Some might say poetic. (grunts. :()

Regards

JR

Thank you for the reassurance, I dearly hope that this has now simply become the 'white coat affect' Although; I remain sincerely concerned as well as anxious (not helping!!)

Quote:

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Liking your other posts btw. Eloquent. Some might say poetic

---

Hmm yes, spelling and grammar were never a strong point of mine - Hey ho!

John, this may appear a rather silly question, nevertheless, what form of exercise did you partake - Furthermore, what consisted of your healthy diet..?

Today’s three readings were:

139/96
124/82
116/76

You see, it doesn’t appear to be persistently high..

Does this mean anything, other then that I am a chronic worrier!
:)

Blood pressure varies throughout the day, so no worries there. If I was looking at all those 6 readings as a job lot I'd average it out at don't worry :ok:.

My exercise was gym initially, I now run and walk up hills with the dog a bit.

My healthy diet was initially nothing more than stop eating for three! (seriously, I sat down, worked out what I was eating in a day, compared it to what I should be eating, blushed, then toned it down a bit). I cut down on the take-away. The veg and salad came later.

JR

p.s. wasn't impugning(?) your comments in any way. Eloquent, like I said.:)

:)

John my dear chap, you have my deepest gratitude – Thank you!:ok:

Is it a wrist or an upper arm cuff you are using?

I have heard that the wrist cuffs can give very variable results ...

JD
:)

Are you resting before taking the measurement? You should be lying down for five to ten minutes prior to taking a reading.

I know from experience that mine is 110/80 (which at the age of 47 and moderately overweight ain't bad). My regular airmedico has seen this enough times over the years to know what's normal so on the occasions where I've been in a bit of a rush and it's a little higher he knows he doesn't need to wait ten minutes.

"Any changes since last year?"
"No"

"Can you read this chart?"
"Yes"

"Great. See you next year" Kerrchinnnggg!!

Rugbyears I wouldn't worry too much.

I tried one of those home test jobbies and I get consistently inconsistent readings. The lowest I remember was about 80/30. The 190/110 had me worried for a bit mind you so it went up to 220/120, all within an hour of each other! They do appear to be horribly inaccurate and I wouldn't waste your time but maybe I had a cheap crappy one.

Every medical I've had my BP has been between 120/60 and 130/70. Resting heart rate of about 80.

I'm 6'2", 15st. Smoke a bit, drink even less and exercise even less than that.