Blood pressure issue with class one medical

clownface95

Hi im nineteen and i recently went to do my first class one medical in Gatwick London, there was an issue with my blood pressure and they me home without and medical and they told me to ware a 24 hour BP monitor and send back the results. When i got the results the nurse said they were quiet high on some occasions. Been honest im very doubtful the CAA will issue my medical. Any advice for my issue with blood pressure? Thanks

Foggy43

If you have issues with your BP go and see your GP immeadiatley. Forget the CAA until your BP is sorted out.

reality19

clownface95 wrote: »

Hi im nineteen and i recently went to do my first class one medical in Gatwick London, there was an issue with my blood pressure and they me home without and medical and they told me to ware a 24 hour BP monitor and send back the results. When i got the results the nurse said they were quiet high on some occasions. Been honest im very doubtful the CAA will issue my medical. Any advice for my issue with blood pressure? Thanks

Consult your dictionary first & then look after your health

clownface95

I went to my doctor and he reviewed my blood pressure results and he does not think I have high blood pressure I even asked should I go on medication he said my high blood pressure was due to white coat syndrome , the problem is that I'm trying to prove to the Caa that i don't have high blood pressure. I don't feel confident with the blood pressure results I sent over .

clownface95

reality19 wrote: »

Consult your dictionary first & then look after your health

If you don't have anything positive to say, stay out of the thread .

ProfessorPlum

If your blood pressure was consistently high on the 24hr monitor, it's going to be difficult to put it down to white coat syndrome. The CAA doc will review the readings together with the diary (that you presumably kept for the 24hrs) and make a decision. The 'high' bits that the nurse is referring to may be for good reasons - taking exercise etc. There's really nothing else you can do at this point until that decision is made. Your unlikely to get an initial class 1 if you're on blood pressure meds, so I wouldn't go down that route in a hurry. Wait and see what the CAA doc says before getting yourself worked up.

Flyer1

I recently went for my initial and had issues with my Blood Pressure. Was coming in at 190/110 range :eek: was ordered on to a 24hr BP monitor where thankfully it was normal and was put down to white collar syndrome.

I'd be asking a few more questions to the AME. I did ask mine at the time about the prospects of using medication to control the BP if it was needed and he said it was possible but not desirable.

Weight, diet, exercise are all contributing factors towards high BP. Maybe shed some more info on your situation.

ProfessorPlum

Flyer1 wrote: »

I recently went for my initial and had issues with my Blood Pressure. Was coming in at 190/110 range :eek: was ordered on to a 24hr BP monitor where thankfully it was normal and was put down to white collar syndrome.

What's that? Fear of 1st class passengers?

the_syco

clownface95 wrote: »

When i got the results the nurse said they were quiet high on some occasions.

Best get this sorted with a visit to the GP, to ensure it's not critical!

folbotcar

There are a number of issues here. You could have 'white coat syndrome'. But as you say you had a 24 hour monitor and the it was 'quite high' on occasion. But then again your GP doesn't see a problem. But unless he's an aeromedical Doctor he may not get importance of it. So there's a bit of a contradiction there. It really depends on the results and whether they were at the high end of normal all time or just normal with spikes. I think you need to know that.

If you're really uncomfortable with the first results it might be a good idea to get another 24 hour monitor and do nothing that might increase your blood pressure in any way for that 24hrs. When your 19 that might be tough. But it has to be done. I took it very easy when I was being monitored but it was no good. Mine was high even when I was asleep.

Meanwhile if you're overweight, smoke and binge drink. Take that as a warning. Cut out excessive salt as well. Even if you do get a class 1 now that stuff may trip you up down the line, not to mention kill you.

The reason I know this is not because I'm a Doctor but I do have hypertension but I kept my class 1 thanks to two types of medication every day for the rest of my life. But it is easier to keep a class 1 with high BP than it is to get an initial medical. That's assuming the medication actually works, which it did for me fortunately. A Doctor told me hypertension is all about halves. Half the people who have it don't know and for half those who do know the medication is ineffective.

I would buy a BP monitor for home use too. In fact I would advise everyone to have one.

You'll probably be OK though.

clownface95

Hi I'd like to thank ye for all the helpful replys ! Am I'm going to provide some medical information from my 24 hour blood pressure results hope this might a more clear picture of my situation with my blood pressure and the Caa !

My minimum systolic when i was awake was (106)

My mean systolic when i was awake was (138)

And my max systolic when i was awake was (190)

Ok and someone asked for some info on my DIASTOLIC

My min diastolic was (49)

My mean diastolic was (76)

My max diastolic was (107)



This is a summery of the results when i was asleep.

My min systolic during the night was (106)

My mean systolic during the night was (124)

My max systolic during the night was (143)



And also the day i went in to recieve my results my doctor took my bp reading once again and it was (130)
And I also remember someone saying asking me did I fill out a diary of my day ? Am no I didn't I wasn't asked to! But I did write a note with the results that i sent over stating that I was doing various activities during the day ! I also got my Doctor to write a cover letter with my results , he just said in it that he does not think I have high bp and the some of the high readings are due to white coat syndrome ! Anyways thanks !

Beano

according to here http://www.bloodpressureuk.org/BloodPressureandyou/Thebasics/Bloodpressurechart
your mean systolic during the day seems to be high. even your nighttime readings dont look great. especially for a 19 year old. and i dont see how any of the readings on a 24 hour monitor could be down to white coat syndrome.

L1011

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

What's that? Fear of 1st class passengers?

Fear of doctors, although that could be much the same thing...

folbotcar

I wouldn't want to offer any kind of medical opinion. But I see your concern. What on earth were you doing to get a reading of 190 over 107. Being chased by a pack of ravenous wolves? Standing on the ledge of a high building?

Anyway you'll see what the CAA medic thinks. If it's a no I wouldn't give up yet and I would certainly be looking at lifestyle changes unless that's not a factor.

clownface95

Thanks for the opinions anyways ! Am ya I don't really no what to do been honest , I sent them over at like the 2nd of January and I still haven't gotten a response , I've called several times but can't seem to get an answer to when I will find out my faith ! Quiet frustrating been honest , and since it's in gatwick , it's not easy I can tell you ! And if there not happy with my bp report I don't really no what to do been honest, I don't really want to spend more money on cardiologists etc! So I'm in abit of a situation if things don't go my way ! And I'm set on going down the pilot career , I've taken lessons I've researched extensively , this blood pressure issue is the one thing in my way , quiet irritating .

martinsvi

If I remember correctly, the JAA Class 1 BP limit was 160/100. If your mean systolic during day is around 138, your body should be capable of maintaining it. No booze/salt/fags for you!

eh, found it

When the blood pressure at examination
consistently exceeds 160 mmHg systolic and/or
95 mmHg diastolic, with or without treatment, the
applicant shall be assessed as unfit.

http://www.jaa.nl/publications/jars/606984.pdf

Beano

folbotcar wrote: »

I wouldn't want to offer any kind of medical opinion. But I see your concern. What on earth were you doing to get a reading of 109 over 107. Being chased by a pack of ravenous wolves? Standing on the ledge of a high building?

Been chased by a pack of ravenous wolves on the ledge of a high building?

clownface95

I don't spoke , don't drink much , also I'm not over weight quiet the opposite .. Any advice on going for a class two maybe ? If I don't get the go ahead with the class one .

martinsvi

clownface95 wrote: »

I don't spoke , don't drink much , also I'm not over weight quiet the opposite .. Any advice on going for a class two maybe ? If I don't get the go ahead with the class one .

blood pressure requirements are the same for both. You need your gp to prescribe appropriate medication and I'm sure you will be able to pass it. the thing is, there are thousands of reasons why one might suffer from high bp, your job as a responsible adult is to make sure there are no obvious reasons for it (lifestyle,diet etc.), your GPs job is to make sure your organs are fine. If all is tip-top, it's probably genetics - pills will not cure it, but will keep it down which will increase the quality and expectancy of your life

ProfessorPlum

Wait and see what the CAA AME says. The chart linked earlier is relevant to resting BP, not really a holter monitor result. Your readings look maybe a little on the high side, but could easily be assessed as being within limits. I feel your blood pressure rising just thinking about this. I do feel for you, my BP and heart rate increase as soon as I go near my medical! Deep breathing and dunk your head in a bucket of ice cold water if that doesn't work (although that's a bit obvious )

martinsvi

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

Your readings look maybe a little on the high side, but could easily be assessed as being within limits.

that's not true. The limit is clearly defined in the requirements. If at the time of measurement it's over the limit, it's over the limit! simple as that

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

Deep breathing and dunk your head in a bucket of ice cold water if that doesn't work (although that's a bit obvious )

again, exposure to cold water/ice will make your blood vessels to tighten up causing pressure to rise. I'd rather suggest a diet of spinach, bananas and beans before the test. Add calcium, vitamin D (skim milk and some yoghurt have that), potassium, magnesium.. actually go to you local pharmacy and grab some vitamins with a drawing of a heart on the box!

ProfessorPlum

martinsvi wrote: »

that's not true. The limit is clearly defined in the requirements. If at the time of measurement it's over the limit, it's over the limit! simple as that



again, exposure to cold water/ice will make your blood vessels to tighten up causing pressure to rise. I'd rather suggest a diet of spinach, bananas and beans before the test. Add calcium, vitamin D (skim milk and some yoghurt have that), potassium, magnesium.. actually go to you local pharmacy and grab some vitamins with a drawing of a heart on the box!

It was a whimsical suggestion. Dunking your head in cold water will cause what's known as the dive reflex, causing your heart to slow right down and your BP to drop initially. It's not the same as sticking your hand in cold water. You are wrong in this situation.

I'm not going to comment further on his BP readings as it's not really my place, but it's not quite as simple as 'if it's over the limit, it's over the limit'. Otherwise we'd all be grounded for our white coat hypertension, and nobody would be sent of to wear holter monitors.

martinsvi

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

It was a whimsical suggestion. Dunking your head in cold water will cause what's known as the dive reflex, causing your heart to slow right down and your BP to drop initially. It's not the same as sticking your hand in cold water. You are wrong in this situation.

I'm not going to comment further on his BP readings as it's not really my place, but it's not quite as simple as 'if it's over the limit, it's over the limit'. Otherwise we'd all be grounded for our white coat hypertension, and nobody would be sent of to wear holter monitors.

dive reflex causes heart rate to drop, but for blood pressure quite the opposite - you can read more about it here - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3631667

the reason for the monitor is to determine how to get the pressure under control. Output from the monitor can tell a lot to experienced cardiologist but having a good output, but bad measurement at your medical will get you no-where closer to the med-cert for obvious reasons

ProfessorPlum

martinsvi wrote: »

dive reflex causes heart rate to drop, but for blood pressure quite the opposite - you can read more about it here - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3631667

the reason for the monitor is to determine how to get the pressure under control. Output from the monitor can tell a lot to experienced cardiologist but having a good output, but bad measurement at your medical will get you no-where closer to the med-cert for obvious reasons

Initially. It can be used in an emergency situation to get a dangerously high HR and BP under control. But really, its a bit off topic, it was no meant as a serious suggestion.
The reason for the monitor is to monitor the blood pressure, not to figure out how to get it under control. I don't know where you got that idea. A once off measurement at your medical will, to any doctor worth his salt, mean very little. It would be a very poor doctor who would take a single reading in the high stress environment of a medical over a 24 hour holter monitor.

martinsvi

ProfessorPlum wrote: »

It would be a very poor doctor who would take a single reading in the high stress environment of a medical over a 24 hour holter monitor.

look, if your about to fly planes, you have to have your pressure under control even in stressful conditions. I can give the monitor to my healthier brother if I want to sneak in aviation by all means, therefore it's readings cannot be considered as proof that your blood pressure is ok (ok I understand that it's difficult to tamper with the device, but people do all sorts of crazy things just to get into aviation)

holter monitor will give you much more info, not just about blood pressure, but your entire cardio-vascular health. For example, holter monitor can point to an oxygen flow problem in your body, allowing your doctor to determine that the blood pressure issue is caused/related to a respiratory dysfunction (just a wild example)

ProfessorPlum

martinsvi wrote: »

look, if your about to fly planes, you have to have your pressure under control even in stressful conditions. I can give the monitor to my healthier brother if I want to sneak in aviation by all means, therefore it's readings cannot be considered as proof that your blood pressure is ok (ok I understand that it's difficult to tamper with the device, but people do all sorts of crazy things just to get into aviation)

holter monitor will give you much more info, not just about blood pressure, but your entire cardio-vascular health. For example, holter monitor can point to an oxygen flow problem in your body, allowing your doctor to determine that the blood pressure issue is caused/related to a respiratory dysfunction (just a wild example)

Look, an increase in blood pressure is a normal physiological response. So in stressful situations, your blood pressure should rise. If you can't mount that physiological response, that's a much bigger reason to fail a medical than a high once off BP reading.