Question
I read a post somewhere that said the they are changing thresholds for bp in Sept.
True ?
Thanks Pete
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And for some it is going to be critical. The new regs beginning in September require the upper number to be at or below 140. The bottom number must be at or below 80.
Anything above this will get you a limited card or disqualified from driving until you can get it under control.
It is not just the DOT that is changing their opinion on high blood pressure. The American Medical Association has spearheaded this change in acceptable levels. So these changes really apply to all of us.Visit us at
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yikes!!!!
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Now we are geting into overbearing government regulation. The goal is not to have safe and healthy drivers , but to put hard working indivduals out of work who, take their health seriously.
I have high blood pressure and have had it for years. I take my medication religioiusly and have regular check ups. When the regs were changed a few years ago from two years to every year for medical exams due to high blood pressure, I agreed with that. I have no problem taking a physical every year.
Now your blood pressure must be not more then 160/90. Mine normaly falls in the 130/85 range. Changing the standards to reflect the low end to no more then 80 is assinine. What we have here is the professional medical community telling patients to increase meds so that a higher profit may be made for the industry.
A driver is not a danger to himself or the motoring public with a blood pressure not exceading 160/90. Once again we have a profession that beleives that it knows and has all of the answers. This has nothing to do with saftey whatsoever.
Catch you on the flip!
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I go once a year also .I am going to get checked out again to fine tune the old BP. This is going to shock a lot of drivers. No one in my company knows about it!
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Does anyone have a link to the new rules?
I couldn't find anything.YES! I spell colour with a U, cause I AM CANADIAN!!!
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Don't be surprised if this the latest scam by the drug companies to get you on their blood pressure drug. These drug companies have very powerful lobbies, and I'm sure they target the truckers because they know we are susceptible to this kind of ailment. So you have to fight to get fit and tell them to stuff their drugs where the sun doesn't shine. Besides who knows what a normal blood pressure is anyway. Opinions vary. My Dad has a BP of 155/78. Doc said no problem, so come on!!
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391.41(b)(6)
A person is physically qualified to drive a commercial motor vehicle if that person:
Has no current clinical diagnosis of high blood pressure likely to interfere with the ability to operate a commercial motor vehicle safely.
Hypertension alone is unlikely to cause sudden collapse; however, the likelihood increases when target organ damage, particularly cerebral vascular disease is present. This advisory criteria is based on FMCSA's Cardiovascular Advisory Guidelines for the Examination of CMV Drivers, which used the Sixth Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (1997).
Stage 1 hypertension corresponds to a systolic BP of 140-159 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP of 90-99 mmHg. The driver with a BP in this range is at low risk for hypertension-related acute incapacitation and may be medically certified to drive for a one-year period. Certification examinations should be done annually thereafter and should be less than 140/90. If less than 160/100, certification may be extended one time for three months.
A blood pressure of 160-179 systolic and/or 100-109 diastolic is considered Stage 2 hypertension, and the driver is not necessarily unqualified during evaluation and institution of treatment. The driver is given a one time certification of three months to reduce his or her blood pressure to less than 140/90. A blood pressure in this range is an absolute indication for antihypertensive drug therapy. Provided treatment is well tolerated and the driver demonstrates a BP value of less than 140/90, he or she may be certified for one year from the date of the initial exam. The driver is certified annually thereafter.
A blood pressure at or greater than 180 (systolic) and 110 (diastolic) is considered Stage 3, high risk for an acute BP-related event. The driver may not be qualified, even temporarily, until reduced to less than 140/90 and treatment is well tolerated. The driver may be certified for 6 months and biannually (every 6 months) thereafter if at recheck BP is less than 140/90.
Annual recertification is recommended if the medical examiner does not know the severity of hypertension prior to treatment.
An elevated blood pressure finding should be confirmed by at least two subsequent measurements on different days.
Treatment includes non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic modalities as well as counseling to reduce other risk factors. Most antihypertensive medications also have side effects, the importance of which must be judged on an individual basis. Individuals must be alerted to the hazards of these medications while driving. Side effects of somnolence or syncope are particularly undesirable in commercial drivers.
Secondary hypertension is based on the above stages.
Evaluation is warranted if patient is persistently hypertensive on maximal or near-maximal doses of 2-3 pharmacologic agents. Some causes of secondary hypertension may be amenable to surgical intervention or specific pharmacologic therapy. (See Cardiovascular Advisory Panel Guidelines for the Medical Examination of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers at: http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rulesregs/medreports.htm )
GUIDELINES FOR BLOOD PRESSURE EVALUATION
Reading Category Expiration Date Recertification
140-159/90-99 Stage 1 1 year 1 year if 140/90.
One-time certificate for 3 months if 140-159/90-99.
160-179/100-109 Stage 2 One-time certificate for 3 months. 1 year from date of exam if 140/90.
180/110 Stage 3 Disqualified 6 months from date of exam if 140/90, then every 6 months if 140/90.
Driver qualified if 140/90.
(make out the above best you can, it was in a table format)
I can't find anything about any new regs either..... can someone in the know point them out?Ben Franklin
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OMG!!!!! MY BAAADDDD!!!! Just re-read my initial response and there is a major TYPO.
The new regs have 140/90 as the upper limit of acceptance. Anything higher than these readings gets limited certifications.
So sorry
But if you are interested in some dry reading here is a link to the entire meeting on cardio/pulmonary issues .
www.dot.gov/pdfs/cardio.pdf
Again, I aplogize for the confusion.Visit us at
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Ok..I just noticed something. I received a 3 month limited card, because my b/p was 159/95. If my b/p by the next physical IS NOT 140/90 does this mean that I CANNOT get another 3 month card?
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What that says is, instead of having to get your medical examiner's certificcate every 2 years, you now will need to get it every year if you have low-level hypertension.
FWIW, I have a vascular condition that always gives a high diastolic reading, usually about a 135/85. This has nothing to do with hypertension. My resting rate is about 55 bpm, which is damn good for anybody in their 40's.
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Braydenspoppa:
Yes, if you are not able to reduce your B/P to lower then 140/90 you will not pass your CDL physical. The reason you were given a 3mth. pass was to have your B/P checked and controled, by your family physician.
I would suggest that you see your doctor and have him do a check up on you, and have your blood pressure checked every week. This will give your doctor a history and allow him to either increase your meds or change them all together.
If your not being treated now for high blood pressure you need to see your doctor asap, so that you can establish a treatment program and history, that the DOT medical review officer in your state will accept.
Do not wait till the last minute to do this, it takes weeks to get your pressure under control and if you do not have it treated, not only is your life in jepoardy but your livelyhood also.
Catch you on the flip!
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Just wanted to give an update......... Since I posted, I visited my physician who prescribed a variety of beta-blockers and diruetics. My pressure has steadily been around 125/85. I was able to get a one year pass. Thanks for everyone's help and suggestions.
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Blood pressure guidelines kick in Sept. 30
http://www.etrucker.com/apps/news/article.asp?id=44155
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about 6 weeks ago I went in to my doc and was using norvasc but bp was 150/85
changed to lisinopril and now am 120/70 with my dr.
passed physical today w/company dr no problem w130/85 (i have white coat syndrone)
Dr. predicted mass failings after 9/30
"most of the truck drivers I give physicals to are a complete mess"
I am back to a 2 year physical now after 5 years. I actually prefer 1 yr because I have to pay attention to my bp. eg I wind up visiting my own Dr. more so I am sure to pass dot physical