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

[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.

[TEB]

1. I know I have cdl as well

Been union for 31 years my problem is not BP. I just caught bi polar and I heard if you put down depakote as med I’ll need letter from my doc. For dot doc and I caught sleep apnea I just yard jockey and on my new certification the dot doc said well your 6foot 160 pounds you do not fit profile but get one done. Here I have it so now I have to give them a read out next November. I miss the old days simpler times 12 years until my union pension just get our two youngest through college. I’m just tired running the road. We sleep hotels but I like the yard. Later good luck try water and a lot of protein fish chicken.

[Tobin S.]

2. I have sleep apnea and biopolar disorder as well. That's why I have to get a physical once a year

instead of once every two years. The bipolar diagnosis isn't too tough to get past. It just requires a note from your doctor, and chances are that he or she will be obliging if you tell him or her that your livelihood is on the line.

The sleep apnea is a little tougher to comply with. You have to get the CPAP machine and demonstrate that you are using it. The machine will have a chip in it that records your usage. It may also have a cellular communications type of device in it that relays your usage back to the CPAP provider you use. When it comes time for your physical, you'll go to the CPAP provider with the chip and get a document that proves your compliance with treatment. They may also have the information already available through the tracking device that might be installed on your machine. You have to demonstrate 70% compliance or better for the previous three months if I remember right.

I swear, with all of the tougher physical guidelines coming down it's like they are actively trying to get older drivers out of the industry. Lord knows that over time as we age we get these kinds of health problems. The thing is that they are making it tougher and tougher for older drivers to stay in the industry. The new blood pressure standards are especially silly in my view.

[TEB]

3. I agree

And the trucking industry is a plantation any more and they are running out drivers. Piss on em

[nuxvomica]

4. You might want to research l-arginine

It's a semi-essential amino acid, meaning the body produces it on its own but requires supplementation under certain conditions. Our bodies produce less of it as we get older. Arginine's primary effect is to provide nitrous-oxide to blood vessels, causing them to widen, which lowers blood pressure.

A good place to start research is WebMD:

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-875-l-arginine.aspx?activeingredientid=875

[Tobin S.]

7. Thank you. I appreciate it. n/t

[Turbineguy]

5. There a vegetable called bitter mellon

it seems to have blood pressure lowering properties. Available in Asian markets but also in tablet form in vitamin stores.

[Tobin S.]

8. Thanks! I'll check into it.

[safeinOhio]

6. Cut out as much salt as you can.

On the other hand, with-in 5 years, or so, all driving jobs will be gone with the new AI driving vehicles. I see truck drivers going first as they are Union workers.

[Tobin S.]

9. I don't think that's going to happen that fast, although it is coming.

The first load has been hauled by an automated truck out in Colorado on about a 150 miles trip or so, but I don't see this truly affecting the industry on a widespread basis for probably at least another 20 years. Truck drivers will likely be phased out after that, and hopefully with some job transitioning assistance. We're talking about over 3.5 million people here.

[FakeNoose]

10. It will happen, but not in 5 years

Investing in the robots (AI drivers) is a big jump for companies to make and for a while anyway it's going to seem cheaper to keep paying people to drive trucks. A few companies will be the early adopters (as always) and the rest will take longer to catch up. This is one industry where insurance will make the difference. Once the insurance companies agree to finance the risk of AI drivers, it will be all over for the human drivers.

I believe there will be a squeeze for truck driving jobs, but jobs will still be available for the next 20-25 years. After that is anybody's guess. Unfortunately truck driving careers will not be seen as a good living because the salaries/benefits are coming down as the unions are losing influence. AI will be taking over so many human careers in the next 25 years that truck driving isn't going to cause much pain for most people.

On the point of the OP, I agree that cutting out salt is helpful and also drinking a lot of water. I recently read that if you're trying to lose weight it's essential to get a full 8 hours of sleep at night. Lack of sleep can actually cause one to gain weight. Go figure!

[safeinOhio]

11. The inter-modal-railyard they built in

North Baltimore Ohio was suppose to cut a lot of long haul drives. That's not working out as planned as they are closing off part of it.

The new tax laws will pay for the change over cost for the corporations. I'm still calling for 5 years. If any of us can remember, lets bring this up again 01/01/2019 and see how it is going.

[Tobin S.]

15. Here's a good article from the New York Times on the issue

Self Driving Trucks May Be closer Than They Appear

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/13/business/self-driving-trucks.html

The article cites one estimate that drivers will start losing jobs in about 25 years. The thing with automation is that a driver will still need to be in the cab for several years as the technology improves. So we will have automated trucks with drivers still in ultimate control for a while before we get fully automated trucks.

Another factor after reading a couple of articles I don't see addressed, is how automated trucks will adapt to changing road conditions, particularly snow and ice. It's one of the hardest aspects of the job for a human driver, and I don't know how they are going to make the technology be able to make that call when it's time to slow down for adverse weather conditions and also when it's time to shut it down completely.

[CousinIT]

12. Cutting down on sodium and losing a bit of weight did it for me. Walking too.

Put a treadmill in your rig? (kidding). I always had low BP until I got over 50-55 or so. Then I stupidly stopped my yoga and was eating a LOT of sodium-laden frozen foods (even vegetarian prepared or frozen foods can be loaded with sodium) and got to Elevated/Stage 1. So I started walking more and started scrutinizing labels on EVERYTHING and using a fitbit to track exercise/walking, calories and sodium (which is in so much stuff you'd not think would have so much of it - until you start tracking it!).

You got where you are with your own willpower and I have NO doubt you can go the next step too! You're gonna kill it - long before it kills you. You've GOT this. GO!

[Zoonart]

13. Great good luck.

This is a very worthy goal and you wil be in control of your own destiny regarding your good health.

[masmdu]

14. From more than 140/90 to 112/76 in 4 months...my method....

So, weight loss and careful diet help. I get to the gym twice a week for 1hr each time.

I try hard to get a good nights sleep of 7.5-8 hrs and get to bed as early as I can.

I have added the following to my diet daily:

1 tsp each of
Ceylon cinnamon (non Ceylon can damage the liver)
Turmeric
Ginger

1 Tbsp each of
Cocoa powder
Amla powder
Ground Flax seeds
Chia seeds

These alone are powerful and you can incorporate them anyway you see fit.
I make a daily smoothie that includes the above and

1 cup raw spinich
6 cherry tomatoes
6 strawberries
Half cup blueberries
1 banana
1 apple
Half cup broccoli
2 cups sencha green tea

I have cut way back on salt and sweets and bread and increased onions and garlic. I've been mostly vegetarian with occasional fish and plan to go vegan in the new year.

Anyway, you may want to look into the positive BP effects on the dry ingredients listed. They have worked wonders for me!
Also, my triglycerides have dropped from >800 to <150 and cholesterol is back to normal (4 Brazil nuts once a month help with cholesterol)

I want to drop another 20-30 lbs and stay on the vegan track. All for what it's worth and good luck.

BTW, good scientific research reviews of the above and more can be found at nutritionFacts.org

Happy New Year!

[Tobin S.]

16. Thank you!

I appreciate the all the information. And Happy New Year to you as well.

[WhiteTara]

17. Think of it as changing your eating habits

not as losing weight. If you have access to a dietician through your doc, you can work on food plans that are yummy, filling and will aid you in your goals.

Happy New Year! I lost 40 pounds just by capping carbs and protein for the past 6 months. I feel much better and my clothes don't pinch and bind.

[Nictuku]

18. Difficult to follow a Diet as a Truck Driver

I think that is going to be your most difficult challenge. You are on the go, and you eat what you can,

I wouldn't be surprised if fast-food was invented for truck drivers.

The diet that works for me (easiest to keep track of) is by cutting out all carbs.

When you eat carbs, it is also the first thing your body burns. You end up storing unused fat.

When you don't give your body carbs, then your body has no choice but to burn the fat.

This can be done, even with Fast food, though you might get some odd looks when you order.

You can have meat, cheese, eggs, and veggies galore.

Cut out bread, rice, pasta, sugar, starches (like potatoes and corn).

You can have things like a bunless In-and-Out burger (they wrap it in lettuce).

You can have taco salads (just don't eat the tortilla)