My New Year's resoultion is to lose weight, and this is one I have to stick to. [View all]

[Tobin S.]

New standards are out for the classification of high blood pressure. They are listed below. This has a direct impact on my life and my livelihood.

Blood pressure categories in the new guideline are:

Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg;
Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 and diastolic less than 80;
Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 or diastolic between 80-89;
Stage 2: Systolic at least 140 or diastolic at least 90 mm Hg;
Hypertensive crisis: Systolic over 180 and/or diastolic over 120, with patients needing prompt changes in medication if there are no other indications of problems, or immediate hospitalization if there are signs of organ damage.

http://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2017/11/08/11/47/mon-5pm-bp-guideline-aha-2017

I have to pass a Department of Transportation (DOT) physical every year to be medically certified to do my job as a commercial truck driver. I don't know how these new guidelines are going to affect the procedure yet, but under them I'm considered to have stage 1 hypertension. Under the current rules for the DOT physical, you will fail with a blood pressure reading of 140/90 and will be required to take medication or somehow otherwise lower your blood pressure to pass the physical. If the DOT is consistent in their application of the new guidelines, a reading of over 130/80 would fail a driver. My blood pressure is typically a little higher than that. A typical reading for me is 133/80, just under the current threshold, but just over the new one.

I've worked hard to lower my blood pressure in the past. My blood pressure truly was high at one time and I failed a physical because of it and had to go on medication in order to pass. I did not want to be on that medication, so I lost about 60 pounds and got my blood pressure down to where it currently is without the use of medication.

Well I could stand to lose at least another 50 pounds, and I'm going to have to do it now if I want to get under that threshold without the use of medication if the DOT adopts the new standards. So that is my New Year's resolution. I have until November to accomplish this. Cue the Mission Impossible theme music.