Brodhead Pietenpol Association

Original Posted By: Harvey Rule
Sheesh- I had no idea there was so much involved in this blood pressure thing. In between medicals, my blood pressure was creeping up into the border-hypertensive region so my personal physician put me on the minimal dosage of Altace to control it. At my next medical, I reported the new medication as well as the doctor visit, my AME requested copies of my personal doc's file on me including my personal log of weekly BP readings over several months (we have a clinic at work so I could easily check and track it), he submitted it with my 3rd class stuff to Okie City, and that was that. Third class issued, no questions, over a year ago.This is the 21st century. We put men on the moon, GPS navigation in everybody's pocket, and can fit a bunch of megabytes of data on a thing the size of an old gum eraser. Blood pressure medication is not experimental, nor is it (dare I say it?) rocket science. Old grandma FAA Aeromedical needs to take some Geritol and get with the program, especially with hundreds of thousands of baby boomers starting through the system with plenty of disposable income and a hankering to fly.Oscar ZunigaSan Antonio, TXmailto: taildrags(at)hotmail.comwebsite at http://www.flysquirrel.net________________________________________________________________________________Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2005 09:36:49 -0500

Original Posted By: "Harvey Rule"
I don't know if this recommendation is for everyone but... I run 7 milesabout 3 or 4 times a week, I'm 42, 5' 10" and weigh about 200 lbs. (Notexactly skinny). I don't go crazy dieting but do make sure I work outfairly regularly. Before my last routine physical I feared that mycholesterol and BP would be on the rise due to the gain in weight (from myold weight of 160 about 15 years ago). At the physical when the doc saw myBP was lower than average and my cholesterol was around 180 he asked if Idid a lot of exercise. I said I ran between 21 and 30 miles a week and hesaid that explained the lower than normal BP. For me and my currentcondition the amount of running I do is about all I can fit into my schedulebut apparently it is having a positive impact on my health. I mightrecommend, if you're in fair shape, that you start running (maybe not 7miles since I've been a runner since high school) and ramp up to where itbrings your blood pressure down. From my experience runners have a lowerthan average blood pressure and it helps with cholesterol too. If you havea physical coming up, start now and do a little as often as possible, sothat by the physical you'll be in good shape. If you have knee problemsswimmers have told me that swimming has similar benefits, but I hate lapswimming.I hope that didn't sound like a health commercial, but getting to the pointwhere you can run 7 or so miles every weekend morning and once during theweek isn't as hard as it sounds and that might be all it takes. Check theidea out with your doc and see what he says.Glenn----- Original Message -----