IR1 Visa Medical & Blood Pressure

[civilservant 42]

Hi all,

I will shortly be attending a medical for the IR1 visa in London.

I am overweight, and definatly could do with losing 5 stone which I am in the process of losing. I do, however, have a way to go.

I have been monitoring my Blood Pressure, which as I have lost the weight has reduced to rouinely being between 130-140/90. I know this is a little high, however since I am exercising I am unwilling to see my GP, lest he try to put me on to medication which will then be for the rest of my life. I want to tackle this problem myself, at least until I move to the US (where I am able to go onto my wifes healthcare).

Has anyone here had experiance of failing the medical on Hypertension grounds, and can anyone advise what would be considered abnormal enough to fail? I have tried to look for civil surgeon guidance, but have been unsuccessful.

Thank in advance

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

I've known of some who Knightsbridge have said their blood pressure was too high and requested they go to their GP for evaluation since they might be just extra nervous on that day in London. If the GP says he is okay with the blood pressure and faxes that to Knightbridge, then you pass. I can't remember any specific numbers. If the GP said he has put you on blood pressure medication, you would still pass. Nobody is going to monitor if you take the pills and Knightsbridge isn't going to invite you back to test again if your GP says you are under control.

[KLB 3]

Hi all,

I will shortly be attending a medical for the IR1 visa in London.

I am overweight, and definatly could do with losing 5 stone which I am in the process of losing. I do, however, have a way to go.

I have been monitoring my Blood Pressure, which as I have lost the weight has reduced to rouinely being between 130-140/90. I know this is a little high, however since I am exercising I am unwilling to see my GP, lest he try to put me on to medication which will then be for the rest of my life. I want to tackle this problem myself, at least until I move to the US (where I am able to go onto my wifes healthcare).

Has anyone here had experiance of failing the medical on Hypertension grounds, and can anyone advise what would be considered abnormal enough to fail? I have tried to look for civil surgeon guidance, but have been unsuccessful.

Thank in advance

I don't know if this will help but I've recently had my Medical and I'm border line (140/80) and suffer with white coat. I did however go armed with evidence from my GP. Firstly I had a recent 24 hr blood pressure check done and also got a letter from my GP to confirm I was borderline and at this present time no treatment is advised. The Doctor at Knightsbridge was happy with this she took my blood pressure twice first time it came out 148/90 she was lovely and advised she would take it again after the rest of the exam, you are bound to be nervous and it will be a little higher! The second time it was taken it came out bang on 140/80

Now from what she said if it hadn't gone down they would have asked me to go back to my GP and get them to retake it in a less stressful situation and write to Knightsbridge confirming the reading.

What I would say from reading the Medical thread on here and my own experience is that if you have any medical condition they want to see that you are being treated if appropriate to do so and that the condition is being controlled successfully.

[lynndy38 64]

I have high blood pressure, the first time the doc took it at my medical it was stupidly high, as Im a big lassie I asked her to try the bigger cuff around my arm.....she let me lay down for a few minutes to calm down,re-took it and it was 130/83 which was a pass. My advice,ask for the big cuff if you have larger arms it made a huge difference to me and could help you too.

[fcat 79]

This s a great thread and i think we'll be surprised how many people actually have this "problem".

Ive been thinking about this for a few weeks as mine is always high 140/92 usually. It goes down for an hour or so after ive been to the gym, i was even planing going to the gym or for a run for an hour before my medical!

Thanks for the comments on this.

[ndu26 114]

This reminds me of two years ago whenmy mom went for her medicals and her systolic( the upper number) was 182. That was a shocker cos we have never known her with BP issues. I was sure it was gonna be a problem at the embassy but It was NEVER mentioned by the CO .

Like previous poster said, the right cuff could make a difference. since you are bordeline, few more days of low salt/ fibre diet, exercise and mental relaxation before the exam could produce wonderul results too.

best wishes.

[speedwell 224]

Also, civilservant, don't be afraid to go on a light blood pressure med if you have high blood sugar issues with your weight (as I do) because it is protective of your kidneys. Just don't let them put you on a thiazide because they have been linked to even worse sugar issues. Your blood pressure will go down with your weight and your sugar issues will improve, like mine have! A blood pressure med is a help. Also I "third" the urging for the right size cuff.

[civilservant 42]

If you are on BP Meds, and you say that at the medical, it you come under during the test are they going to need a letter? We discussed going on a short course to alley my fears about the medical and then stopping again. He didn't think it was a bad idea.

[speedwell 224]

If you are on BP Meds, and you say that at the medical, it you come under during the test are they going to need a letter? We discussed going on a short course to alley my fears about the medical and then stopping again. He didn't think it was a bad idea.

CS, I think it's a good idea to have such a letter to show that you are undergoing treatment and intend to consult a doctor about it in the US as well. After all, the idea is to show that you won't allow your health issue to become an issue for the US to have to deal with.

Edited April 15, 2013 by speedwell

[civilservant 42]

This is what I find amusing - they wouldn't deal with it even if it did become an issue!

[speedwell 224]

This is what I find amusing - they wouldn't deal with it even if it did become an issue!

Oh, you know it's not you being ill that's the issue. It's not like they care. What they really begrudge you is a hospital bed if you can't pay for it, disability or welfare if it puts you out of work, and all the other grand posh entitlements that make poverty such a Paradise in this country.

[MikeJill 5]

Can I just ask did they take your blood pressure in one arm or in both arms?

[Ash & Tiffany 4]

Hi all,

I will shortly be attending a medical for the IR1 visa in London.

I am overweight, and definatly could do with losing 5 stone which I am in the process of losing. I do, however, have a way to go.

I have been monitoring my Blood Pressure, which as I have lost the weight has reduced to rouinely being between 130-140/90. I know this is a little high, however since I am exercising I am unwilling to see my GP, lest he try to put me on to medication which will then be for the rest of my life. I want to tackle this problem myself, at least until I move to the US (where I am able to go onto my wifes healthcare).

Has anyone here had experiance of failing the medical on Hypertension grounds, and can anyone advise what would be considered abnormal enough to fail? I have tried to look for civil surgeon guidance, but have been unsuccessful.

Thank in advance

hey. i was passed on my medical today but i thought i would chime in with my experience.

i am the same re blood pressure. for about 8 months i was on beta blockers for "hypertension". i had doppler ultrasounds, blood tests, all that stuff. nothing unusual found. the beta blockers made me feel better but i only REALLY noticed it in a clinical situation because that's where my symptoms really showed.

i am 6'3'' and 255lb (116kg). i'm not really comfortable at doctors and dentists as my clinical hypertension symptoms show. i've been worried about this medical for days now and my BP has increased slightly. usually it's 120/80-130/90. the last few days it has been on the higher end of that scale. today i had my visa medical and i was nervous as hell thinking that he'd pick up on my BP and make me go back to my doctor. it was 140/70.

end result - he said in this circumstance it was perfectly normal. i read it when i got home... 120/90.

with that BP level, i dont think you'll have a problem but it does depend on the doctor i guess.

[speedwell 224]

i am 6'3'' and 255lb (116kg). i'm not really comfortable at doctors and dentists as my clinical hypertension symptoms show. i've been worried about this medical for days now and my BP has increased slightly. usually it's 120/80-130/90. the last few days it has been on the higher end of that scale. today i had my visa medical and i was nervous as hell thinking that he'd pick up on my BP and make me go back to my doctor. it was 140/70.

end result - he said in this circumstance it was perfectly normal. i read it when i got home... 120/90.

with that BP level, i dont think you'll have a problem but it does depend on the doctor i guess.

"White coat syndrome". Wow, do I ever get that. I'm on BP meds but even without them my BP is borderline. When I go to the doctor they take it twice, once at the beginning of the appointment so they can say "Wow" and once at the end so they can say "Oh".

[Ash & Tiffany 4]

"White coat syndrome". Wow, do I ever get that. I'm on BP meds but even without them my BP is borderline. When I go to the doctor they take it twice, once at the beginning of the appointment so they can say "Wow" and once at the end so they can say "Oh".

yeah i get it a lot. i let it get the best of me today. i'm even nervous about needles. i'm such a big sook lol.

but yeah, my doctor didnt seem too worried about my level today. i had a little notepad full of my readings for the last few months and they are all very much normal so even if he was, i could've shown him that to verify it's only in a clinical situation.