High Blood-Pressure

[Albert]

Hello

Does anyone know if the trainee driver medical can be passed if a candidate's blood pressure is normal, but controlled with medicine? I have read up and can only find fitness test, alcohol and drug test, eyesight and hearing all of which are fine.

 

[Old Timer]

Hello

Does anyone know if the trainee driver medical can be passed if a candidate's blood pressure is normal, but controlled with medicine? I have read up and can only find fitness test, alcohol and drug test, eyesight and hearing all of which are fine.

Yes, its medical jusgement but providing that the blood pressure is controlled then you should be fine.

Blood pressure above 180/xxx controlled / uncontrolled revokes PTS under medical fitness.

 

[Albert]

Thank You Old Timer

BP is about 135/85. I was worried that if asked on medication or picked up in drug/alcohol test that because I was on medication for hypertension I would be failed and never let near a train. You have put my mind at rest, thanks again.

 

[Old Timer]

Thank You Old Timer

BP is about 135/85. I was worried that if asked on medication or picked up in drug/alcohol test that because I was on medication for hypertension I would be failed and never let near a train. You have put my mind at rest, thanks again.

Seems a bit high if you are on medication though, unless you are over 40.

 

[Dolive22]

One question and one piece of information.

The Drug test won't show cardiac drugs, only the drugs of abuse they are looking for along with some OTC meds that are similar, mainly cough medicines and strong painkillers. They should explain to you what is banned and what you need to report using.

How is Hypotension viewed? I do sometimes see stars when I get up from lying on the sofa, but only if I've been there a while. It doesn't really matter as my career plans are unlikely to ever take me anywhere near a track, but I would like to know whether I could.

 

[yorkie]

I do sometimes see stars when I get up from lying on the sofa, but only if I've been there a while.

I get that, are you then unable to see anything for a few seconds and you feel faint?? Then slowly your vision returns, starting from the centre spreading out? Happens to me occasionally. Every few years I'll get it really bad, feel very faint, collapse and not be able to see anything for a while and not be able to do anything for a while. Several things can trigger it.

 

[Dolive22]

It's not as bad as that for me. Just stars pretty much filling my vision for a few seconds. If I go from asleep to standing up in a few seconds (my alarm clock is out of reach from my bed) I have to grab on to something for a few seconds. My doctor wasn't very worried. It is called positional hypotension. The only trigger for me is going from a very low heart rate with my head at or near the level of my heart to standing up.

 

[yorkie]

Yes, I can get that, but occasionally when standing just after being sat down, I don't have to be lying down to cause it. Other causes have included being forced to stand up in extreme heat for a long period of time, climbing lots of stairs*, etc. It is much more likely to happen to me if I have a cold or something.

(* No, it's nothing to do with fitness, I can cycle 45 miles in a day without any problems, which others here can testify is true!)

 

[Dolive22]

I'm decently fit as well. In fact I was a lot fitter six months ago, and it hasn't got any worse. I do what I suppose lots of people would call extreme sports, and I can accelerate to sprint or sprint from cold on 2 or 8 wheels or on foot without it happening. I think it has to do with the margin of blood pressure your body keeps in reserve and/or the speed with which your heart responds to the need to increase flow rate and BP.

Have you talked to your GP about this? Mine was not worried when I mentioned it and I'm of an age (young) and a build (slim) where they wouldn't just put it down to age and clotted arteries. But yours does sound a bit worse.

 

[yorkie]

I think I have this (mildly). I did have loads of tests, and nothing was found to be wrong. First time I can recall it happening was in Year 6. Nothing to do with age, if anything it's worse when you're young apparently. I know someone who has it very bad and had to see a specialist, it was difficult for him to get it recognised that he had it. GPs refused to diagnose it. He said there's only about 1 doctor in the country who can properly diagnose it or something. GPs tend to dismiss it regardless of how bad you have it apparently.

 

[Dolive22]

That does sound a lot worse than what I have.

Did I give the impression I was putting it down to your age? I didn't mean to.

 

[yorkie]

No, not at all, I was agreeing with you that it isn't due to age, and was just adding that this problem (low blood pressure) is worse when you're younger.