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On the road to health
John Kelly, M.D.

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John Kelly, M.D.

On the road to health

KellyEarly in my career as a physician, when I worked in emergency rooms, I always asked patients if they had any questions before they left. Patients often asked important questions that they had not previously raised. Many patients also had questions when nurses called them the day after their visit to the emergency room.
     Later in my career, I noticed that questions are often not discussed until the time of follow-up visits. I also saw that questions are sometimes not asked at all, or, if questions are asked, answers to questions may be inadequately explained or not fully understood.
     When I worked at Union Pacific Railroad, which has more than 2,000 drivers with CDLs, drivers often had important questions aboKelly2ut relationships between health and driving.
     Health is too important for drivers not to ask questions or for drivers to not understand the answers to their questions. Health issues affect drivers, their families, companies and the public.

Q.   How often should drivers monitor their blood pressure?

A.   High blood pressure is a common condition that can cause heart attacks, stroke and premature death. Approximately one-third of drivers have high blood pressure, and another one-third of drivers have pre-hypertension, which increases the risk of high blood pressure.
     In addition to the health risks of high blood pressure, poorly controlled high blood pressure can cause a driver’s CDL to be restricted or cancelled. Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for drivers with high blood pressure. Prominent health organizations, including the American Heart Association and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, recommend that persons with normal blood pressure should be screened for high blood pressure at least once every two years, and persons with pre-hypertension should be screened for high blood pressure at least once a year. Drivers with normal blood pressure or pre-hypertension should follow these recommendations.
     Drivers with high blood pressure should monitor their blood pressure more frequently than drivers with pre-hypertension or normal blood pressure. Drivers with high blood pressure should follow the recommendations of
their physicians. Some physicians recommend that drivers with high blood pressure monitor their blood pressure at least once every month. Other physicians recommend that drivers with high blood pressure monitor their blood pressure weekly, or even daily, to assure that their high blood pressure is adequately controlled.

Q. How should drivers measure their blood pressure?

A.   Many devices are available for drivers to measure their blood pressure. Blood pressure monitors are available in the offices of physicians and other health care providers, many pharmacies and groceries, and some trucking locations. Inexpensive portable blood pressure monitors are also available.
          To assure accurate measurements of blood pressure:
•    Don’t smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes of measuring blood pressure.
• Empty your bladder before measuring your blood pressure.
• Remove any bulky clothing from the arm that will be used for blood pressure measurement.
• Sit quietly for one or two minutes before measuring blood pressure.
• Take at least two blood pressure measurements; allow at least two minutes between each blood pressure measurement.
• Keep a record of blood pressure measurements.

John T. Kelly, MD, and chairman of the medical advisory board for the Healthy Trucking Association of America, is chief medical officer of Lifeclinic International, which manufactures blood pressure and weight monitors located in many trucking locations. Dr. Kelly was previously chief health and medical officer of Union Pacific Railroad.