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27 Responses to “Pulse Rate and Blood Pressure”
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NCCM (ret) Goering,
I have a complicated situation, and I hope that you can point me in the right direction. In 2004 I underwent a physical at MEPS while applying for a slot to U.S. Navy OCS. During the physical, I had a bad blood pressure reading, and was disqualified. I was advised to have my blood pressure monitored for 3 days, and if all was normal to then submit for a BUMED waiver. It was, and I did. I was granted a BUMED waiver for my blood pressure, but unfortunately I was not selected for OCS. I still have the desire to be in the U.S. Navy, so I started the enlisted route process in 12/09. I underwent another physical at MEPS in 2/10, and all went well…..I thought. I was checking out for the day when I was informed that I was disqualified again, because of my previous “hypertension” in 2004. I was told to do the same thing, and get my blood pressure monitored for 3 days and to submit for a waiver. At MEPS this most recent time I was within standards for blood pressure. At my most recent 3 day monitoring period my blood pressure was within standards. I submitted for a BUMED waiver, and I was denied on 5/18/10 due to my previous “hypertenstion”. My case is that I have never been diagnosed with hypertension, and have never taken any blood pressure lowering medication or been placed on any special blood pressure lowering diet. As I stated before my blood pressure readings were all normal. I am actually a very active individual, and obtaining a SO contract is my dream and ultimate goal. I just want to find out if there is any way I can appeal this waiver denial. I was never referred to see any specialist such as a cardiologist, or any other doctor to confirm or deny my “hypertension” from the one bad reading in 2004. I want to do everything within my power to make sure I’m given a fair shake. If there is anything you can do to help me….give me a point of contact at BUMED or MEPS, or a means of appeal to disprove my “hypertension” I would forever be indebted to you. Thank you for your time.-Joe
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It may be good to ask such disqualified applicants if they got a decent sleep the night before. My BP is always high when I am sleep deprived, and every night I stayed at MEPS I got virtually no sleep at all. The rooms were hot and stuffy and unpleasant. Many other people complained that they could not sleep. The morning I went to MEPS my BP readings were higher than ever and I was disqualified. At home my average BP is a bit high, but is always at or below 140/90(unless I am sleep deprived).
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I was disqualified at MEPS in July for High Blood Pressure. The Doc told me to go back to my doctor and fill out the BUMED Waiver form which I did and the reading are below 140 over 90. It has been two months now since i was last at MEPS, so what happens when I go back to process? Will i have to redo the medical exams I already Passed or does the Meps Doctor just retake my blood pressure to verify that its within range?
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I also took my physical exam at MEPS and they said my pulse rate was high so my recruiter said that i had to get my personal doctor to take readings for three diffrent days. My doctor said im good all
“vital are in normal limits” he wrote a letter and fax it to my recruiter. How long does it take to get that small situation clear so i could go to the next step?Hope to hear from you
Johnny -
yes my recruiter said that the information that my doctor gave him is what he needs. My question is why is it taking so long for them to approve it is there a 30 day waiting policy?
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The Weather has been bad in NJ and yes my recruiter told me that he keeps checking his computer to see if everything is ok but nothin yet it has been two weeks since i been there! so it makes me wonder if the information he has been telling me is true.
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Hello,
My husband went to MEPS yesterday and passed all of the medical examinations (including blood pressure) except for his resting heart rate. They tested his heart rate three times and it was about 10 beats per minute higher than the acceptable 100. He got an 81 on his ASVAB. He was disqualified, told to go to a home doctor for two consecutive days, obtain documentation, and return to MEPS. I believe he has always had a faster than normal heart rate but has never had any family medical history nor any symptoms or problems with his heart. Is this going to be an issue? What if the doctor monitors his heart for the two days and it is still over (which I believe will be the case)?
Thank you in advance for your help.
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Thank you for your response. Does that mean that’s the end of the road or can he apply for a waiver? How exactly does a waiver work?
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Hi Again -
So my husband went to Patient First for the two consecutive days and they did list “tachycardia” on his paperwork as a diagnoses however, they also performed an EKG on his heart and a thyroid test. Both were find and his EKG read his resting pulse rate as 91 BMP.
When he spoke to the doctors/nurses, they stated he is perfectly healthy and doesn’t have anything that would prevent him from performing day to day Naval duties. Does this in addition to the EKG heart rate reading change anything?
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I also have HBP, but I’m taking meds for it. My recruiter says I will be disqualified by MEPS because I can’t be on any meds at all. I understand that its up to MEPS & the recruiter can’t make that call, but he’s pretty sure its not going to happen. I’ve read that it’s possible to get a waiver if you have HBP, but nothing species whether that pertains to HBP meds. My personal physician recommended I stay on meds so is it likely I will I will be granted waiver & be able to enlist?
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Thank you for this website. This is a question that I’ve been trying to research. I have a history of mild hypertension (greater than 140/90) – it is documented in my medical records. I was medicated until this month. Under my physician’s supervision, I have discontinued use of lisinopril because I want to apply for a commission in the navy. Since the original diagnosis in 2008, I have lost a little bit of weight (10 lb.s) and increased my exercise to daily. I am physically fit (6’1″ and 183 lbs). Since being off the meds, I have been going to the clinic daily to have my bp readings documented – they have been avg. 130/74. No readings have been over 140/90. I have my 2-week follow up next week where I will ask my physician if he can document that I do not currently have hypertension. Will MEPS even give me the chance to have a physical? If so, do I have a good chance of getting a waiver? Thanks for your help.
njc
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I’m 17 and trying to get into the military. I went for a physical for ROTC and was told my BP was too high and to get it recorded for 3 days. I did that and everything was fine. I then got a letter from the DoDMERB saying that I was medically qualified for the AF academy. Usually my BPM and BP goes up because I get nervous. If I take my letter from the AF academy and my cardiologist saying everything’s fine should I get a waiver?
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Hello,
I was Temporarily DQ’ed because of high BPM at MEPS. I did what I was told and went to my substitute family doctor (normal doctor is on maternity leave) for the three days of pulse rate readings. After three days of almost normal readings, blood work (normal), chest x-ray (normal), and EKG (normal);I was referred to a cardiologist who conducted more tests with normal results. My only issue is that I keep getting a steady BPM of 101. I have been told that the Navy doesn’t wave tachycardia, but would it be considered with numerous tests that state I am healthy but have an extensively investigated, just barely faster than normal heart rate? Thank you for you opinion.
-Brooke -
Hello,
I was temporarily dq’d back in 09 beause of tachhycardia. MEPS told me to do the whole 3 day monitering with my physician. Unfortunately I had a family death and had to leave the state for a month. How does one go about re-enlisting now? I have never since had high bp or pulse since 2009…it was mainly due to the fact I hadnt any sleep the night before physicals and drank loads of coffee..
You know, I’d be willing to bet dollars to donuts that a fair number of disqualifying BP or Heart Rate readings are caused by our young recruit’s affinity for energy drinks. If these kids would lay off the energy drinks and/or caffeine for a few days BEFORE their physicals, it might be a whole different story for them.
Respects,