Dodmerb- high blood pressure

[Crisdela]

I recently had my Dodmerb physical. I had two blood pressure readings. The first was 142/90 and the second was 136/82. Will this create a problem to pass my physical?

 

[bopper]

Googling I found:
Heart and Vascular System Among the disqualifying conditions are: uncorrected septal defect; congenital, rheumatic, or other abnormality of the heart valves or major vessels; abnormal heart rate or rhythm; blood pressure predominantly in the range of 140/90 or greater; severe or symptomatic varicose veins; and mitral valve prolapse which has either caused symptoms or been associated with rhythm disturbance or regurgitation.
https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/_files/documents/MedicalAppendix1.pdf

 

[THParent]

I will start by saying I'm not a doctor.

If the DoD doctor examining you didn't make a big deal about it, I wouldn't worry about it keeping you out of USNA. Blood pressure readings can vary a great deal depending upon what time of day they are taken and what sort of physical exertion you did before you had the reading.

If blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, it’s called prehypertension, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute in Bethesda, Md.

It could be that you're just like me and doctors make you nervous (thus elevating your blood pressure). It could also mean that you are at risk of developing hypertension and all the fun stuff that goes with it. You can reduce the problem by cutting salt in your diet, but first you have to learn what foods have a lot of sodium in them. It's pretty simple to see that French fries have salt in (and all over) them. Breaded meats and frozen dinners have a lot of sodium, as do a lot of noodle dishes and burritos or pizza.

If your heart is healthy - it pumps more efficiently and less frequently - so regular exercise will reduce your blood pressure. Becoming a lot more active can reduce your systolic reading (that's the top one) by as much as 4 to 9 mmHg (which is as good as a lot of blood pressure medications).

 

[Old Navy BGO]

It could be that you're just like me and doctors make you nervous (thus elevating your blood pressure).

> White coat syndrome ! I would suspect that most people going into the DODMERB physical have BP's higher than their normal, relaxed BP.

Seriously, one reading isn't going to disqualify you if the standard is

blood pressure predominantly in the range of 140/90 or greater

. Hopefully, the Doc took the second reading to verify the first reading, and simply reported the second reading. If not, or if there is any question, I would expect that DODMERB would request further evaluation.

 

[Crisdela]

Thank you for all the info

 

[NavyHoops]

I actually had a remedial for this during my DoDMERB many years ago. I had to do a 3 day blood pressure reading standing, sitting, laying down 3 times a day. It was a pain, but luckily I grew up in a small town and the local doc was a father of a buddy of mine. I swung by his office going to and from school and at lunch each day for the readings and they were fine. All resolved once the letter and details were sent in.

Like I said this was a long time ago, so not idea what they do now. I have really bad white coat syndrome for doctors. Take me to the dentist and I will be 120/80 every time and sleep thru everything there to include root canals. Take me a doctor and I think the world is ending.

 

[Capt MJ]

DH is the same for docs and BP. His primary doc, a former AF flight surgeon, gave him an Rx for a home BP unit that recorded a twice daily reading he did himself, which he uploaded to doc practice site. Miraculous difference.

For the OP, don’t worry about it until you have to, if you have to.

 

[Devil Doc]

My BP is always high at work. I shouldn't measure it at work.

 

[GoCubbies]

I recently had my Dodmerb physical. I had two blood pressure readings. The first was 142/90 and the second was 136/82. Will this create a problem to pass my physical?

It depends on what the doctor put in your physical exam forms. If he put the 2nd one, then you're fine.

If he put the 1st one, then you'll probably have to get your blood pressure checked twice a day for 3 days to give DODMERB the warm and fuzzy that you don't have high blood pressure.

 

[Crisdela]

Of course I also took a Sudafed the morning of my physical because of a cold. I didn’t want to fail the hearing test because my ears were clogged. This probably raised my blood pressure as well. I did call the clinic and they told me they have to report both blood pressure readings.

 

[GoCubbies]

Of course I also took a Sudafed the morning of my physical because of a cold. I didn’t want to fail the hearing test because my ears were clogged. This probably raised my blood pressure as well. I did call the clinic and they told me they have to report both blood pressure readings.

It can go either way then. DODMERB may average the 2 blood pressure readings, so you'll be fine because the average is within standards. If they see the 1st BP reading (even though they have the 2nd one), they could ask you to get your blood pressure done twice a day for 3 days to get an average. Hard to tell.

 

[teammom]

I recently had my Dodmerb physical. I had two blood pressure readings. The first was 142/90 and the second was 136/82. Will this create a problem to pass my physical?

From now on, request a manual reading instead of the machine. When my DS had his DoDMerb exam, he requested a manual BP and it was normal. His pediatrician had discovered a couple years earlier that every time he took his BP with a machine it was elevated. There are studies which show that cuff size and other factors can give false readings.

 

[Crisdela]

Thank you so much for that advice! Where will the 3 day retake happen? Can I use my own doctor or do I have to go back to the dodmerb office, which is a bit far? Thank you all for the information

 

[GoCubbies]

Thank you so much for that advice! Where will the 3 day retake happen? Can I use my own doctor or do I have to go back to the dodmerb office, which is a bit far? Thank you all for the information

I just looked at the DODMERB remedial codes. Again, I'm not sure how the DODMERB reviewer will look at your 2 BPs with one being in standard and one being out of standards - but the average of the 2 is within standards.

There is a remedial with the following instructions:

"REQUIRES A PHYSICIAN'S APPOINTMENT: Please obtain the results of blood pressure and pulse readings taken in the sitting position, once a day, for three consecutive days. Test is to be accomplished without sedation; however, a short period (not greater than 15 minutes) of rest is recommended prior to testing. NOTE TO THE EXAMINER: If the applicant's arm circumference is greater than 28 cm., please use an oversized blood pressure cuff. Please have the health care professional annotate the results on this form: https://dodmerb.tricare.osd.mil/Docs/BP.pdf. The tests may be accomplished by a physician, school nurse or qualified paramedical personnel. Also please annotate, in #1 on the attached Three Day Blood Pressure and Pulse Check form, if you are currently on any medications, and if so, give complete details. Please return the form via mail, email, or fax."

So looks like it'll be once a day for 3 days. There is another remedial that asks for only one new BP measurement (for 1 day only).

The extra instructions for the BP cuff is because if the size of the cuff is smaller than what should be used, then the BP measurement will be falsely elevated.

You can probably use your own doctor. The reality is you're probably not going to see the doctor at all. You're going to see the nurse who will take your BP and send you on your way. You may not even see the doctor at all especially if the BP measurements come back normal. The nurse will just fill out the forms and have the doctor sign off on it.