Blood pressure medication

[Zeldman]

On my last medical I was approaching borderline high blood pressure. I can still pass a 2cd class medical. My question is for pilots on medication for blood pressure. Do you have a special issuance medical or will a record of medication working let my AME issue a normal medical?

I am not worried about losing my medical, I am more worried about having a stroke later on in life. My health is more important that flying.
I fly for a living.

I have had weight problems but it is now on the way down. 245 at last medical in November, and now down to 220. My blood pressure is still a little high but not high according to FAA standards. My goal is 195 by next November.

Thank you for your replies. Negative a hole replies will be ignored.

 

[Greg Bockelman]

It isn't a big deal. I am in the same boat right now.

All my FAA doc wants is a statement from my Family doc that there are no adverse affects from the meds and that my BP is well under control.

It is pretty much that easy.

 

[timwinters]

It isn't a big deal. I am in the same boat right now.

All my FAA doc wants is a statement from my Family doc that there are no adverse affects from the meds and that my BP is well under control.

It is pretty much that easy.

Same here. I was always a 125/75 guy. Then I turned 50 and things have been slowly creeping up over the last four years. I went on meds in Feb. I'm now dealing with my first flight physical since. Basically the FAA doc wants to see:

1. Complete review of pertinent history including personal, social, and family history related to hypertension and risk factor analysis for complications

2. Statement from treating physician describing the effects of treatment and any risk factor modification program

3. Representative blood pressure readings

4. Laboratory testing to include electrolyte, lipid profile, and glucose

5. Resting ECG (EKG).

If all that looks good then the medical can be issued.

Here's the full FAA document.

 

[timwinters]

Oh...BTW...I took my ipad with me when I went to see my doc about my blood pressure and starting meds. And I pulled up AOPA's list of meds on my ipad to make sure anything/everything we discussed was approved. It's far easier to do this up front than to get home and find that you've been prescribed a grounding drug.

 

[Geico266]

Your goals are admirable. Keep up with the weigh loss and exercise. That will lower your BD, help ward off diabetes, and keep you flying (and living) longer than any meds can.

 

[timwinters]

You goals are admirable. Keep up with the weigh loss and exercise. That will lower your BP, help ward of diabetes, and keep you flying (and living) longer than any meds can.

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes it's unavoidable. I'm relatively height/weight proportionate, exercise regularly, eat well, etc.

I'm from a big family, the youngest of ten kids. Mom and dad both had blood pressure issues (dad was alway as thin as a rail and worked his ass off), and 4 older siblings have blood pressure issues even though they too take reasonably good care of themselves.

My primary care guy is probably in his late 50s. He's still in the army reserves as a doc, he runs 4 to 5 miles every day, is as thin as a rail, and is still on BP meds.

Sometimes it just is what it is and you work with the hand you're dealt as best you can.

 

[Bill]

My primary care guy is probably in his late 50s. He's still in the army reserves as a doc, he runs 4 to 5 miles every day, is as thin as a rail, and is still on BP meds.

Sometimes it just is what it is and you work with the hand you're dealt as best you can.

Amen, brother, amen.

 

[Geico266]

Sometimes yes, sometimes no. Sometimes it's unavoidable. I'm relatively height/weight proportionate, exercise regularly, eat well, etc.

I'm from a big family, the youngest of ten kids. Mom and dad both had blood pressure issues (dad was alway as thin as a rail and worked his ass off), and 4 older siblings have blood pressure issues even though they too take reasonably good care of themselves.

My primary care guy is probably in his late 50s. He's still in the army reserves as a doc, he runs 4 to 5 miles every day, is as thin as a rail, and is still on BP meds.

Sometimes it just is what it is and you work with the hand you're dealt as best you can.

Agreed, but I was responding to the OP's weight loss and goals for more weight loss. He has lost a lot of weight and wants to lose a total of 50! That is hard to do, but the benefits will last a life time of he can pull it off.

 

[JimNtexas]

I've lost ~70 pounds since my June 2011 physical, yet my BP is higher than it was then!

 

[Zeldman]

I've lost ~70 pounds since my June 2011 physical, yet my BP is higher than it was then!

Wow... 70 pounds, that is excellent.!!!

Thank you for the responses. I have noticed that in my self testing that my blood pressure has gone up a couple of points with weight loss. My doctor assures me that the increase is temporary because of the changes in diet and activity. Totally cutting out soft drinks, removing salt and sugar as much as possible, more fruit and asian vegatables, and of course adding my wifes main food: rice with every meal. Never mind the stress of financing a major expansion of our business.

Speaking of, she just came into my office and complained that we are down to ONLY 50 pounds of rice.

 

[flyingriki]

Some Googling results:

The first thing you need to do is remove all grains and sugars from your diet, particularly fructose, until both your weight and your blood pressure have normalized. Eating sugars and grains -- including any type of bread, pasta, corn, potatoes, or rice -- will cause your insulin levels and your blood pressure to remain elevated.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...wering-your-blood-pressure-in-15-minutes.aspx

People in Japan eat rice virtually every day and rice -- especially the brown and only partially "polished" varieties -- contains a natural compound that appears to guard against high blood pressure and heart disease.

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/028705_brown_rice_high_blood_pressure.html#ixzz387rwf5Re

Who knows.....

 

[azure]

Some Googling results:

The first thing you need to do is remove all grains and sugars from your diet, particularly fructose, until both your weight and your blood pressure have normalized. Eating sugars and grains -- including any type of bread, pasta, corn, potatoes, or rice -- will cause your insulin levels and your blood pressure to remain elevated.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/a...wering-your-blood-pressure-in-15-minutes.aspx

Possibly useful information about the above:

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/mercola.html

 

[flyingriki]

Possibly useful information about the above:

http://www.quackwatch.org/11Ind/mercola.html

Yup I believe the FDA about as much as the IRS, TSA, EPA, etc.....

http://www.mastersinhealthcare.com/blog/2011/15-disturbing-facts-about-the-fda/

http://www.dddmag.com/news/2013/10/senator-calls-investigation-fda-pay-play-scandal

The Science Board's most important, and distressing, finding is that the FDA bureaucracy "cannot even keep up with the advances in science" -- and not solely due to a lack of funding. While "the world of drug discovery and development has undergone revolutionary change," the authors write, the FDA's "evaluation methods have remained largely unchanged over the last half-century." (Our emphasis.)

Think about that: We live amid a revolution in biology, but the FDA still thinks like it did when Sputnik launched. An on and on....

 

[azure]

Yup I believe the FDA about as much as the IRS, TSA, EPA, etc.....

Did you read the entire article or just have a knee-jerk reaction to the fact that the it was the FDA ordering Mercola to stop making certain claims? Several of the Mercola products listed in that article pegged MY snake oil meter, screw the FDA. To wit:

- Living Fuel Rx, claimed to offer an "exceptional countermeasure" against cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, autoimmune diseases, etc.
- Tropical Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil, claimed to reduce the risk of heart disease and has beneficial effects against Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and many infectious agents
- Chlorella, claimed to fight cancer and normalize blood pressure.

not to mention that the agendas of some of the organizations that belong to his Health Liberty coalition, especially the "National Vaccine Information Center", are as far removed from the interests of public health as any I can think of. Of course, YMMV.

I will admit that I didn't spend a lot of time on Mercola's current site to see if he's still making these claims, but a quick visit revealed that he's still in the business of selling products with very dubious scientific basis.

 

[flyingriki]

Did you read the entire article or just have a knee-jerk reaction to the fact that the it was the FDA ordering Mercola to stop making certain claims? Several of the Mercola products listed in that article pegged MY snake oil meter, screw the FDA. To wit:

not to mention that the agendas of some of the organizations that belong to his Health Liberty coalition, especially the "National Vaccine Information Center", are as far removed from the interests of public health as any I can think of. Of course, YMMV.

I will admit that I didn't spend a lot of time on Mercola's current site to see if he's still making these claims, but a quick visit revealed that he's still in the business of selling products with very dubious scientific basis.

The issue was rice....remember?

 

[poadeleted20]

On my last medical I was approaching borderline high blood pressure. I can still pass a 2cd class medical. My question is for pilots on medication for blood pressure. Do you have a special issuance medical or will a record of medication working let my AME issue a normal medical?

Insufficient data. The AME doing the exam will use this worksheet to determine which way to go. You would be well-advised to go over that sheet in advance of your actual FAA medical exam with either your doctor or the AME who will do the exam so you know where you stand. You can get further, reliable, detailed advice from Dr. Bruce Chien on the AOPA Forums or his web site.

 

[Zeldman]

Insufficient data. The AME doing the exam will use this worksheet to determine which way to go. You would be well-advised to go over that sheet in advance of your actual FAA medical exam with either your doctor or the AME who will do the exam so you know where you stand. You can get further, reliable, detailed advice from Dr. Bruce Chien on the AOPA Forums or his web site.

I am still fine for my medical. And I have been with my AME for about 12 years now. He has been a doctor for 50 years and a AME for around 40 years and a naval flight surgeon so I trust his knowledge. I am just planning ahead and trying to increase my knowledge. He is on top of my up and down blood pressure. I just keep forgetting to ask him if high blood pressure needs a waiver or special issuance or if he can issue the certificate with my family doctors report.

A simple phone call to him will clear it all up for me. Thanks to everyone for your replies.

 

[azure]

The issue was rice....remember?

Actually I believe the issue was blood pressure. The relationship between insulin resistance and hypertension is well known, however I don't know of any credible evidence that eliminating grains from the diet is the BP panacea that Mercola suggests. My point was that the words of a snake oil salesman aren't a very convincing way to argue a controversial position.

Here's a recent (and perhaps more credible) article on the subject.

 

[paflyer]

Basically the FAA doc wants to see:

1. Complete review of pertinent history including personal, social, and family history related to hypertension and risk factor analysis for complications

2. Statement from treating physician describing the effects of treatment and any risk factor modification program

3. Representative blood pressure readings

4. Laboratory testing to include electrolyte, lipid profile, and glucose

5. Resting ECG (EKG).

Oh, is that all?

 

[paflyer]

Negative a hole replies will be ignored.

Is there such a thing as positive a hole replies?

 

[timwinters]

Oh, is that all?

My primary care guy already had all of it except the EKG. That was a whopping $50. No big fizz.

 

[JimNtexas]

With reference to the worksheet Ron provided, when it says less than 155/95, does that return true if (systolic > 155 AND diastolic > 95), or does requirement trigger if (systolic > 155 OR diastolic > 95) ?

I check my BP regularly and have never seen anything close to systolic > 155, but on bad days I've seen diastolic > 90, and that's not with an AME reading the gage!

 

[Greg Bockelman]

It is "and/or" If either or both numbers are above, it is flagged.

 

[poadeleted20]

With reference to the worksheet Ron provided, when it says less than 155/95, does that return true if (systolic > 155 AND diastolic > 95), or does requirement trigger if (systolic > 155 OR diastolic > 95) ?[

I believe they both must be below those values (i.e., if either is above its limit you are out of spec), but you should ask Bruce if you really need to know.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I've been pushing 3rd class blood pressure limits for a few years. My docs wanted me to go on BP medications but I refused. Instead I just started stepping up my cardio intensity with endurance bike rides, and magically it came down to normal levels.

I'm not saying that's an option for everyone, but it worked for me.