High blood pressure while enlisting? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

WAZX3DRVR · 10-27-2007, 03:00 AM

When I went to MEPS on the 17th/18th they said my bp was elevated and put me on the hypertension protocol, that is getting 3 consecutive days of readings from my doc and a letter saying I don't have high blood pressure and I've never been on a special diet or pills. I got that done today, and my readings were ok and mostly all below the 140/90 cutoff. The highest was 139/92, and the average of the three was 132/88. I also included readings from routine doc appts that show more toward 130/76, hopefully all goes well. I never thought the bp would be an issue, but now I'm all jacked up with stress taking them so that is not helping, and I'm freakin' out as I wait to hear back next week.

Any similar stories or advice? The branch I'm working with is Army Reserve.

MarineFlyboy · 10-27-2007, 06:57 AM

BP tends to be an issue for me as well. When you are getting your BP taken just clear your mind and focus on taking nice slow deep breaths. Usually my first reading is a little high so I just tell the corpsman to take it again and it always reads lower. Cut salt out of your diet like salty chips, fries, Gatoraid, etc as well. Hell 130/76 is what I shoot and they say I'm fit to fly so I would think that would be good enough. Good luck!

Rhulett · 10-27-2007, 03:43 PM

Cut out sodas, coffee, ice tea or anything containing caffeine products. These constrict the blood vessels and increase BP. Drink more water. Also beware of any decongestants such as sudafed or phenylephrine that are contained in may cold/allergy combinations.
Also cut out adding salt to foods as mentioned in previous post, and be doing plenty of exercise that increases heart rate.

Good luck to you!

WAZX3DRVR · 10-27-2007, 06:51 PM

Thanks guys. Hopefully the MEPS gods shine upon me and I'm cleared this coming week.

10-27-2007, 03:00 AM	#1
WAZX3DRVR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 437	High blood pressure while enlisting? When I went to MEPS on the 17th/18th they said my bp was elevated and put me on the hypertension protocol, that is getting 3 consecutive days of readings from my doc and a letter saying I don't have high blood pressure and I've never been on a special diet or pills. I got that done today, and my readings were ok and mostly all below the 140/90 cutoff. The highest was 139/92, and the average of the three was 132/88. I also included readings from routine doc appts that show more toward 130/76, hopefully all goes well. I never thought the bp would be an issue, but now I'm all jacked up with stress taking them so that is not helping, and I'm freakin' out as I wait to hear back next week. Any similar stories or advice? The branch I'm working with is Army Reserve. __________________ S&W 638/GLOCK 20/SIG SP2009/XD45 4" Dark Earth/Mossberg Mav88 12 gauge/Ruger SingleSix .22LR "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free". -Ronald Wilson Reagan Myspace

10-27-2007, 06:57 AM	#2
MarineFlyboy XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 339	BP tends to be an issue for me as well. When you are getting your BP taken just clear your mind and focus on taking nice slow deep breaths. Usually my first reading is a little high so I just tell the corpsman to take it again and it always reads lower. Cut salt out of your diet like salty chips, fries, Gatoraid, etc as well. Hell 130/76 is what I shoot and they say I'm fit to fly so I would think that would be good enough. Good luck! __________________ The Basic School - F Co 31 Aug 06 - 15 March 07 Primary Flight Training NAS Whiting Field Sept 10 - Apr 16 Advance Jet Training NAS Kingsville 28 May - ?

10-27-2007, 03:43 PM	#3
Rhulett XDTalk Newbie Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 1	re: high blood pressure Cut out sodas, coffee, ice tea or anything containing caffeine products. These constrict the blood vessels and increase BP. Drink more water. Also beware of any decongestants such as sudafed or phenylephrine that are contained in may cold/allergy combinations. Also cut out adding salt to foods as mentioned in previous post, and be doing plenty of exercise that increases heart rate. Good luck to you!

10-27-2007, 06:51 PM	#4
WAZX3DRVR XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Tacoma, Washington Posts: 437	Thanks guys. Hopefully the MEPS gods shine upon me and I'm cleared this coming week. __________________ S&W 638/GLOCK 20/SIG SP2009/XD45 4" Dark Earth/Mossberg Mav88 12 gauge/Ruger SingleSix .22LR "Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on to them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free". -Ronald Wilson Reagan Myspace

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