Preventative Health

HYPERTENSION

General:

 

You must provide your medical examiner with the following information:

  • Date of hypertension onset.
  • Name and location of treating health care professional.
  • What interventions have been done.
  • Medications you are taking.
  • Treatment plan.
  • Side effects of medication. 
  • Report: Any history of chest pain, shortness of breath, swelling of ankles, dizziness or fatigue.

 

Certification:

  1. Blood pressure is less than 140/90.  Certify up to two years. (one year if on medical treatment)

 

  1. Blood Pressure is greater than 140/90 but less than 160/100
    1. This is Stage One Hypertension.  Certification goes one of two ways.

                                              i.     If the driver has no history of hypertension, is not on any treatment then the driver receives a one year card.

                                            ii.     If the driver has a history of hypertension, is being treated, or still has stage 1 hypertension after a one year certification then the driver receives a card good for 3 months ONE TIME ONLY.

  1. Drivers who return after one year and their BP is <140/90 and are not being treated may be certified for up to two years.
  2. Drivers who return at 3 months and their BP is still >140/90 are disqualified until they provide evidence of blood pressure control
  3. Drivers who return at 3 months and their BP is <140/90 may be issued a one year card from the date of the original exam.

 

  1. Blood Pressure is greater than 160/100 but less than 180/110.
    1. This is Stage Two Hypertension.

                                              i.     If the driver presents with Stage 2 Hypertension, and this is the first exam they may obtain a certification for 3 months ONE TIME ONLY.

                                            ii.     This is regardless of whether they are or are not treated.

  1. Drivers must at follow up be <140/90 or they are disqualified until they provide evidence of adequate BP control.
  2. If they return at 3 months and their BP is <140/90, the driver may be certified for one year from the date of the original exam.

 

  1. Blood Pressure is greater than 180/110.
    1. This is Stage Three Hypertension
    2. The driver is disqualified
    3. To be recertified, the driver must present evidence of blood pressure control.  Again, control is considered BP of less than 140/90.
    4. Once the blood pressure has been controlled the certificate should be issued for 6 months only.
    5. After 6 months, the examiner makes certification decisions on a case by case basis as to whether a longer (annual) certification is appropriate.