High Blood pressure

[Gforces]

What happends if your at BCT and they see that your BP is high? Send you home or perscribe you some BP meds?

[SteveLord]

I would think that MEPS would catch that and act upon it before letting you ship?

[andrew.tischner]

You will become temporarly disqualified. You are not allowed to have High blood pressure but a waiver can be granted if its not to high.

Second you are not allowed to be on a prescription medication when you ship to basic

[Gforces]

I would think that MEPS would catch that and act upon it before letting you ship?

If your running,the BP would get a little high for anyone thou. I am taking the ACV to keep it low enough to get thou MEPS.

[Hickman]

Does ACV really work for that though?

[StaticHawk]

You will become temporarly disqualified. You are not allowed to have High blood pressure but a waiver can be granted if its not to high.

Second you are not allowed to be on a prescription medication when you ship to basic
Like not any prescription medicine? for anything whatsoever? I was wondering about that.

[Gforces]

Does ACV really work for that though?

Yes it does work.

[Gforces]

You will become temporarly disqualified. You are not allowed to have High blood pressure but a waiver can be granted if its not to high.

Second you are not allowed to be on a prescription medication when you ship to basic

But they can perscribe while your at basic? I say if your at basic while on BP meds.. and all is good then they should let you continue your Military career. If there are complications at basic well then they can boot you out at that time. I take BP meds and dont have any problems ever, no matter what I am doing. most agencies will let you join as long as you BP is controlled. I was at the Border Patrol academy for 3 weks until family issues popped up, but I heard there training style was similar to Military,some say it was harder. I was able to handle that.

I am just fusterated is all.

I am sure there is a very high % of people in the military right now that have high BP. Ok I am done venting for now. I just think there needs to be some new guidlines on having high blood pressure and letting people sign up. I mean come on there letting convicts join, some that have commited a terrorist act.

[Gforces]

You will become temporarly disqualified. You are not allowed to have High blood pressure but a waiver can be granted if its not to high.

Second you are not allowed to be on a prescription medication when you ship to basic
What is not to high?

The Defense Department has also expanded its applicant pool by accepting soldiers with criminal backgrounds and medical problems like asthma, high blood pressure and attention deficit disorder, situations that require waivers. Medical waivers have increased 4 percent, totaling 12,313 in 2006. Without waivers, the soldiers would have been barred from service.

[andrew.tischner]

I cannot say it is not something i decide, a doctor makes that decision on a case by case scenario.

Like i tell everyone you cannot be mad at the system, you just need to try. If you cannot get in try a couple more times. But if you have something that keeps you from serving, we are sorry.


The millitary is not a equal oppurtinity employer. There are reasons why they do the things they do. Yes you might be ok right now , you might be able to do everything you do fine. But under stress, 18 hour days , little food and sleep , extreme work in extreme heat will you be? that is what the military is worried about.

[Gforces]

Q. Why is blood pressure the next Decade of Health focus area?
A. A determination was made that high blood pressure in Soldiers is a significant issue among Guard Soldiers and that it can be stabilized by education and medication, making this an immediate opportunity for positively impacting readiness and mobilization.
http://www.decadeofhealth.com/faq.html

So this means one can be perscribed meds for high bp while in the guard?

[QuantumRN]

Q. Why is blood pressure the next Decade of Health focus area?
A. A determination was made that high blood pressure in Soldiers is a significant issue among Guard Soldiers and that it can be stabilized by education and medication, making this an immediate opportunity for positively impacting readiness and mobilization.
http://www.decadeofhealth.com/faq.html

So this means one can be perscribed meds for high bp while in the guard?


There are different standards for enlistment vs. retention. At BCT you are being held to the enlistment standard.

I'm assuming that since this thread is old, that you've already completed BCT/AIT. If that is the case, then yes, soldiers already in the Guard CAN in fact be on certain prescription medications. Just remember, it doesn't mean it's a free pass to be broke. If you can't be deployed, or can't meet the medical retention standard, they can discharge you very easily.

[erikelvis]

How high is the BP?

[QuantumRN]

Anything over 140/90 is considered "high".

[andriasmith]

I agree with andrew tischner, as not allowing person suffering with high BP, they will make you disqualify.

[Gforces]

How high is the BP?

If the question was directed to me,this morning when i checked it,it was 138/81,,,thats with a a 5mg pill.

Been trying for awhile to get past this hurdle,and trying to do it the right way and not lie to MEPS about it.I think if I excersize more I can maybe drop the meds and be ok. Im not overweight thou,buy have a gut. weight is 155-160

[Gforces]

Ok, since my last post, i have enlisted. I did have to get a BP waiver. And i have been off the meds for about 1.5 months. On the 19th of this month i injured my back at work and had to go to the clinic like 4 times and they had mentioned my BP was high was like 159/101. Everytime they take my BP now i get nervous and can feel it get high in fear of it being high.Kinda like white coat syndrome i guess. Im in a position that im not sure what to do. Do i start takeing the meds again til i ship, and then go through OSUT and hope for the best? I stopped takeing the pill before i enlisted to see how my BP would stabelize. Any advice or similar situations? And seeing that my weight is 160lbs. Height is 5'9" would i be able to lower it naturally with more phsyical activities? I dont do much right now. And thanks for any input.

[Jgradu]

I needed a blood pressure waiver because mine was 141/92. since then i have been running a lot and cut a lot of sodium out of my diet (i was eating about 200%, now less than 100%). I also eat fruits with high potassium (tomatoes, bananas) every day. Potassium has lots of functions in the body that counteract sodium. since i've been doing this my last BP reading was a perfect 120/60. I've also read that chronic dehydration can lead to high BP.

So to summarize, I would recommend an increase in cardiovascular exercise and a decrease in sodium. that should get you quite a bit lower.

[Gforces]

Thanks for your input, i appreciate it. May i ask what your weight was?

[Jgradu]

yeah, I was about 167lbs and 5'8". I'm about 155 now.

[Gforces]

yeah, I was about 167lbs and 5'8". I'm about 155 now.
Ok, how old are you?

[Jgradu]

I'm 22, was 21 when i got the high BP read.

[Mike2K]

If you're not overweight and exercise regularly and you still have high blood pressure, I recommend cutting down on the doritos, beer, and tobacco products.

Mike2K

[Gforces]

If you're not overweight and exercise regularly and you still have high blood pressure, I recommend cutting down on the doritos, beer, and tobacco products.

Mike2K
Im 39 and dont do none of the above, and dont excersize much at all, so im going to start do that at least 4-5 times a week.

[Mike2K]

If you're 39 you definetly need to start exercising regularly or the high blood pressure and other problems will almost indefinetly come. Also, cutting down on lots of caffiene will also help reduce blood pressure. Pretty much anthing that brings joy in life besides sports and exercise will cause high blood pressure.

Mike2K - WO1

[BoopMD]

Why are you off your meds? Non-compliant, just great! I'd pull that waiver in a second.