Low Blood Pressure

[Rachel Brown]

Good Morning All,

First and foremost my apologies if this post is not in the right place. I’m completely new to Rail Forums and this is my first post.

I have worked on the railway for nearly 4 years now as a guard and am just wondering if anyone has any experience with low blood pressure.

I know high blood pressure is a problem but just wanted to know if anyone suffers with low bloody pressure and if / how they manage it and if it has caused them any problems at work.

Many thanks in advance for all your help and or information

Rachel

 

[Clip]

You should be able to find good solid information from your occy health provider through your TOC as i would imagine each person is different as would be their needs

 

[a_c_skinner]

I cannot tell you about rail specifically, but this interesting condition is ruminated about in Europe and in UK thought to be of no consequence at all. Unless you have a history of syncope then it is probably a non condition. It is often blamed for symptoms that orthodox medicine would characterise as psychologically driven but all of this is difficult to prove. Like a lot of non descript ill health a lot of people will see you and "treat" for money and the internet will yield many of them. This Wiki entry is frankly quackery it just shows how difficult things are when something gets into the alternative medicine sub-culture. It is mostly true but it is so mixed up and unsystematic that it makes no sense at all.

Unless you have clear cut syncope or pre-syncope, esp. with postural change then your blood pressure is unlikely to be significant. If you do have syncope or pre-syncope with posture change then there are a few ultra-specialists who deal with this.

(retired doctor, this wasn't my specialist area.)

 

[philthetube]

If your low blood pressure is known about by the company and they are happy then you have nothing to worry about, though you should think about telling them about it, as with any medical condition. can you say how low?

 

[Caad12]

Fluids. Plenty of fluids. Any opportunity you have then get your feet up. Any fainting issues (syncope)? Take time on getting up from prone positions (sitting) in case you feel all squiffy. Basic stuff really.

I’m a paramedic and deal in this quite often on the road - any questions feel free to PM. Ta!

 

[NorvernRob]

If your employer already knows then it shouldn’t be an issue. My brother in law has low blood pressure and is a commercial pilot for BA. You do need to inform your employer if you have any fainting incidents, but other than that I don’t see how the railway would be any different to airlines.

 

[Rachel Brown]

Evening all,
thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my message. I have not been diagnosed yet, so not even sure of a reading. It was just something a friend mentioned when I explained I sometimes feel light headed when I stand up quickly and of course the first thing I thought was my job............!!!
I have actually been out today and bought a blood pressure monitor, I know they are not as accurate as a doctors one but I gave me a reading over 120 /60 which I believe to be well into the normal brakes so I think my real panic is over although I will have to take a trip to the doc and see if there are any other issue.
once again, thanks for taking the time to reply

Rachel

 

[Caad12]

Evening all,
thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my message. I have not been diagnosed yet, so not even sure of a reading. It was just something a friend mentioned when I explained I sometimes feel light headed when I stand up quickly and of course the first thing I thought was my job............!!!
I have actually been out today and bought a blood pressure monitor, I know they are not as accurate as a doctors one but I gave me a reading over 120 /60 which I believe to be well into the normal brakes so I think my real panic is over although I will have to take a trip to the doc and see if there are any other issue.
once again, thanks for taking the time to reply

Rachel

All good unless you have AF & you’ll never get a proper BP reading

 

[Sox]

BP is an interesting subject, since retirement (much less stress plus better diet, weight loss and fitness), mine has dropped from borderline hypertension to 110/63 (at the last measurement).

...and that alone could add +10 years of productive life.