You are here:
Careers: Military--Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard/Navy and high bp
Advertisement
Question
Can I join the navy if I have high blood pressure and I'm taking medicine for it?
Brandon,
The short answer is maybe.
The military considers anything higher than 140/90 as hypertension.
A direct quote from the military medical regs is, "A cause for rejection for enlistment is Hypertensive vascular disease, evidenced by the average of three consecutive diastolic blood pressure measurements greater than 90 mmHg or three consecutive systolic pressure measurements greater than 140 mmHg. High blood pressure requiring medication or a history of treatment including dietary restriction."
Sometimes they'll let you join as long as it's not extremely high and it's controlled by medication. Some recruits go on a crash diet to lose weight so their BP will be low when they join. Then later, after they're already in, it's OK to have high BP and the military will treat them for it. However, some hypertension is hereditary and controlling weight does no good. So those type folks are out of luck.
Thanks for considering the Navy. I hope you make it.
Colonel H
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
MARK A. HOWELL
Expertise
All military questions, any Service. 30 years experience & two Ph.D.'s. 4 times Base Commander. Worked with Army, Navy, USMC, USCG and several foreign military units. Veteran of Kosovo, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 10 civil wars in Africa.
Experience
Air Force Colonel with 30 years experience. Air Force Base Commander 4 times. Highly decorated.
Organizations
Org of Am Historians, Wild West History Assoc.,
Disabled American Veterans - Life Member, Am Motorcyclist Assoc. - Life Member,
North Am Hunt Club - Life Member, NWTF - Life Member
Publications
Numerous book reviews published in the Journal of American History.
Two books submitted for publication.
Education/Credentials
Ph.D. in military history, Columbus University (Summa Cum Laude)
Ph.D. in history, Northfield University, London, England (Summa Cum Laude)
Master of Arts degree in history, Marshall University, WV
Bachelors degree, double-major in history and mathematics, Salem College, WV
Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
Squadron Officer School, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL
Awards and Honors
Legion of Merit
Defense MSM
MSM x 5
Joint Commendation Mdl
AF Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Mdl
Joint Achievement Mdl
AF Achievement Medal
Outstanding Volunteer Mdl
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.