An estimated 75 million Americans have high blood pressure or hypertension. According to the CDC, that’s roughly 30% of the US population. But what exactly is high blood pressure and what are the DOT blood pressure guidelines? High blood pressure can be caused by a myriad of unhealthy lifestyle habits or even genetics. Measuring blood pressure is a common step in an annual physical. However, if you’re found to have hypertension, the DOT blood pressure guidelines will affect your day-to-day trucking routine. Common Symptoms of Hypertension What is blood pressure? When a nurse or physician tests your blood pressure, “they are measuring the force that blood exerts on the walls of the arteries as it flows through them.” If blood pressure is too high for too long, it can cause serious damage to the blood vessels. This is known as high blood pressure or hypertension. The damage that is caused by this condition can result in a range of complications including heart failure, vision loss, stroke, kidney disease and other serious health problems. What makes hypertension so dangerous is nearly one-third of people who have high blood pressure don’t even realize it! One way to know if you should get tested is if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure. Otherwise, the only way to know if you developed this condition is through regular tests and check-ups. It’s important to remember that Hypertension symptoms can differ between men and women, as well as with people with preexisting conditions or specific genetic features like obesity, type 2 diabetes, kidney disease, sleep apnea, lupus as well as others. Some general warning signs that your blood pressure is too high may include: Severe or Throbbing Headache Fatigue or Confusions Blurred or Foggy Vision Chest Pain or Tightness Difficulty Breathing or Shortness-Of-Breath Irregular or Inconsistent Heartbeat Blood in Urine Pounding in your Neck, Chest or Ears The Inconvenient Truth for Truckers “Truckers have an increased propensity for the development of hypertension, exceeding the risk typically seen in other professions,” according to a Cardiovascular Advisory Panel. “Long-term data have shown increased rates of cerebral, cardiac, and renal complications in patients with elevated blood pressure.” Due to the fact that Hypertension is progressive in nature and is commonly undetected, the DOT Blood Pressure Guidelines will require regular follow- up and monitoring of...