Question
Nurse Red(or anyone who'll know) are there strict regulations in the time alloted for a heart attack "victim" to be off of work? I've heard 3 months off, 3 months light duty then all is good. Is that true or is that just a "guideline" that Doctors adhere to for Insurance reasons?
Keep the sunny side up and the dirty side down.
Happiness comes in small doses, take them when you can.
Answer
It will depend on the severity of the damage done, the type of treatment, (meds vs. surgical intervention) etc.
The "rule of thumb" is that once the Cardiologist has deemed the person safe to return to their previous job as a driver, and performed a stress test using Bruce Protocols,the driver may present a copy of that and their most recent EKG, along with a letter from the cardiologist to the Dr. performing the DOT examination.
If medically certified, it will be for a one year period and will be renewed yearly instead of every 2 years.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
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Answer
Thanks Nurse Red. I wanted to get out of trucking-my wife wants it more than I do, but I just can't seem to escape that I have a CDL and it works for me. I have a copy of my stress test and a release from my doctor to go back to work. That should be okay right?
Keep the sunny side up and the dirty side down.
Happiness comes in small doses, take them when you can.
Answer
That ought to do it. Maybe a copy of the last EKG too.
Keeping you safe, healthy and on the road.
Visit us at Visit us at
Answer
On a related note, my brother, and me, thought he was having a heart attack last week, they placed him in hospital, did all the related tests, knew he had a problem, but it had NOT been an attack.
He had the cath and stress test. Stress failed, cath passed,
After keeping him for observation, it was determined his resting heart rate, (at times) was 30!
They installed a pace maker, he said the second day he was more rested than he had been in years. Seems a beating heart instills confidence and he was able to rest!
As for his carrier, Crete, they simply told him to get a clearance from the cardioligst and re-take his physical and he was back to work when he was ready.