Sleep Apnea Question
Topic 13631 | Page 3
172 is pretty high. I don't think White Coat Syndrome can make your blood pressure spike that much. Try going by Walgreen or Walmart and check it on their machines. you can buy a digital blood pressure thing at Walmart for $30 to monitor it. The good news is that it is a easy fix. I take lisinopril for High Blood Pressure and the pills are cheap even without insurance.
I agree, it's very high. I've never had an issue with my blood pressure til now. I know it's manageable, it's just one more thing preventing me from moving forward. Preventing, not stopping.
Buddy I know exactly where you are and how you feel right now. I started working on this 7 months ago I knew I had high blood pressure and got that solved before the test it wasn't until the dot physician told me I needed a sleep apnea test then I realized I had sleep apnea. And it was quite severe at that. I finally got all that solved and under control and you'll get there too. Just stick with it you'll be a healthier person after this is all said and done. I feel like a whole new person now!
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
Okay, now I'm confused. I went to the VA and had them check my blood pressure. 134. Not as low as I'd like, but passable. They gave me a home monitor kit to keep an eye on my BP. I tried it out first thing when I got home. 111. Something smells a bit fishy here. Also, a lot of people were shocked that with a BP of 176 the clinic let me just walk out without a doctor checking it out (all I was seen by were nurses).
Okay, now I'm confused. I went to the VA and had them check my blood pressure. 134. Not as low as I'd like, but passable. They gave me a home monitor kit to keep an eye on my BP. I tried it out first thing when I got home. 111. Something smells a bit fishy here. Also, a lot of people were shocked that with a BP of 176 the clinic let me just walk out without a doctor checking it out (all I was seen by were nurses).
What was your bottom number at the dr? The bottom number is a little more important. If it's over 100 that's not good. But if your bottom number was relatively good the 176 may not be such an issue. Test it multiple times a day after various activities and try to get an average number. If it's consistently good then I would say white coat syndrome is your answer. And yes it can spike that high due to that.
I agree with Chickie. Nothing fishy or confusing here. Just a little bit of white coat and nerves. It happens all the time.
Your BP can go all over the place. One day my BP (taken by a nurse) was 130/80 (a good one) and the next day (another nurse) it was 140/90, the top of the "qualified" level. Anything more and I could have failed the physical.
The DOT physical goes by the numbers, it's not a judgement call by the MD.
Get some sleep, no coffee, no cigs (no vape either!) be happy and mellow. You'll get your lowest pressure that way.
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
A little update:
Went to the doctor today, and my BP was at 131. A bit higher than I'd like, but it would pass the physical. The doctor said 176 was highly possible due to white coat syndrome, and that she wasn't going to put me on BP meds if she couldn't see any proof of elevated pressure. She told me to put more cardio in my workouts and just keep doing what I'm doing. Figures the only time I had high BP was when it counted.
For those who are interested we have tons of great information on blood pressure:
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) Guidelines & Advice
And I mentioned it earlier in this thread but we also have a ton of information on Sleep Apnea:
- Sleep Apnea Information & BMI Calculator
- Forum Topics Tagged "Sleep Apnea"
- Article: The Sleep Apnea Witch Hunt
Hypertension:
Abnormally high blood pressure.
Sleep Apnea:
A physical disorder in which you have pauses in your breathing, or take shallow breaths, during sleep. These pauses can last anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. Normal breathing will usually resume, sometimes with a loud choking sound or snort.
In obstructive sleep apnea, your airways become blocked or collapse during sleep, causing the pauses and shallow breathing.
It is a chronic condition that will require ongoing management. It affects about 18 million people in the U.S.
BMI:
Body mass index (BMI)
BMI is a formula that uses weight and height to estimate body fat. For most people, BMI provides a reasonable estimate of body fat. The BMI's biggest weakness is that it doesn't consider individual factors such as bone or muscle mass. BMI may:
- Underestimate body fat for older adults or other people with low muscle mass
- Overestimate body fat for people who are very muscular and physically fit
It's quite common, especially for men, to fall into the "overweight" category if you happen to be stronger than average. If you're pretty strong but in good shape then pay no attention.
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Thanks for the links Brett.
One other thing that was positive yesterday was that she filled out and signed a doctor's release form regarding my apnea, so at least I got that. She offered to notate the BP readings she got as well, but I told her it probably wouldn't make a difference. They're going to go by what results they get.
Thanks for the links Brett.
One other thing that was positive yesterday was that she filled out and signed a doctor's release form regarding my apnea, so at least I got that. She offered to notate the BP readings she got as well, but I told her it probably wouldn't make a difference. They're going to go by what results they get.
So what is your gameplan for your next DOT physical to prevent the "White Coat Syndrome"?
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
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This topic has the following tags:
Blood Pressure DOT Physical Health Concerns Hypertension Medical Certification Sleep Apnea
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I agree, it's very high. I've never had an issue with my blood pressure til now. I know it's manageable, it's just one more thing preventing me from moving forward. Preventing, not stopping.