NHRA competition license physical?

[FED 387]

Remember if you're over 55 ya gotta have a EKG!!!!--- MY BP is usually kinda low also my pulse at rest is lower than most under 68-70--- my BP is around 120/80- but when I go to the Doc it goes up--- several causes for that in the afternoon it can be higher most people are---- after schlepping up 2 flites of stairs it is higher but goes back down after 2-3 min----the anxiety of sitting in the Drs. office excites some people so it goes up--- sitting in the DRs office butt naked and its 68* I'm cold so it goes up----certain foods can elevate it Coke Coffee Chocolate stuff with Caffiene, other meds, BOOZE, lotsa things but it IS NOT beneficial in the long term to generally have high BP--I'm NO DR OR MED person just my experience on what is going on---My EKG if ya overlay them ya cannot tell one from the other over 10 years---my stress test put me in the 93-95% range--- I take one med for hereditary high cholesteral and eye drops to lower my eye pressure that's it----Get healthy and get checked out your health is much more important than racing---If your NOT AROUND (dead) cuz ya did not take the time to get/be healthy no racing is gonna matter at that point----GET YOUR PROSTATE CHECKED OUT TOO- i DID ON A NORMAL RACING PHYSICAL AND I FOUND OUT I HAD CANCER--i'M OK NOW HAD IT REMOVED 3 YEARS AGO BUT i NEVER EVER EXPECTED IT!!! aS IT ENDS UP both OF MY BROTHERS HAD PROSTATE CANCER AFTER i TOLD THEM TO GET TESTED---NEITHER ONE KNOW THEY HAD IT EITHER--- FED387

[Ed Wright]

I have to have an EKG, and have a Right Bundle Branch Block. Not a heart problem, but the EKG doesn't read correctly, so will probably mean a tread mill test. Did one a few months ago, no problem other than time and expense.

[jmcarter]

Originally Posted by Larry Curtis

Bill,
... He does not do the nhra physical and I am concerned that white coat syndrom my cause me to fail....
Larry

I realize you can develop a long term relationship with a doctor and feel comfortable with them but if they won't do a NHRA Physical form then you might want to shop for a different doctor. Fortunately, my insurance pays for yearly physicals and I've never had any problems getting two different doctors to take the extra few minutes to complete the physical form; consequently the EKG and Physical cost me nothing extra. I might suggest you tell your doctor that you want to get your records transferred to another doctor and why you're doing it, you are the customer; not them.

[FED 387]

no need to get huffy with your Doc---most of the questions contained on a NHRA physical are within the realm of a routine physical nothing special there the only thing extra might be having the equiptment to do an EKG ---so ya might just show him the physical form questionairre and see what his response is---if he doenot wanna do it find someplace that does SPORTS physical they should be able to take care of it---comp

[Mack Reeves]

I didn't know that I had high BP till I had to get the NHRA physical for my competition license... It wasn't that high but higher than I wanted it.. this was 7 or 8 years ago... Still on the meds but BP is where the Doc wants it and I'm happy about it also.... On another note just wait till you have to have the EKG with your physical... First one on me the Doc sees a little "tic" and the longer he looks at it the more he wonders about it... a nuclear stress test and $13,000 later( thank God for insurance) , I get signed off on the license.. But, he still refers back to the stress test and attaches it to the current EKG on my license app..... So its still there but nothing to worry about.....

So, Larry, get the BP in check... You will live longer for sure!!!!

[Dave Casey]

Just did mine yesterday for the 2nd time, the Dr did the paperwork for NHRA , no extra charge, sounded like they do it all the time, it is almost identical to the dot physical. and yes they did the ekg also.

[Bill Baer]

Originally Posted by Larry Curtis

Bill,
Thank you for the advice, sincerly. My blood pressure at home is 128 over 78 but in the doctors office it is ussually 140 over 90. My doctor and I have been monitoring it for 9 months now and I tried a BP med but was saverly allergic to it. My doc is not concerned with my current readings, but he does see me every 3 months for a check up. He does not do the nhra physical and I am concerned that white coat syndrom my cause me to fail.
Larry

Larry

I apologize for being so blunt but my experience is the same as Mr. Cates I too thought that I might have “white coat syndrome” but I was just kidding my self after changes in my diet (cut out caffeine and cut back on salt) and starting BP meds and losing 30 lbs. my BP runs around 115/69.
I also had the experience of seeing both my grandfather and father crippled by and eventually die from strokes.


You might try using deep breathing techniques to relax yourself before they take your blood pressure you might also consider some meditation techniques as these too can help to lower your blood pressure. You might also talk to your Dr. about alternative ways to lower your blood pressure.
Again I apologize for being so blunt.

Sincerely

[Rob Petrie E395]

If someone does not mind telling me. What are you paying for a EKG? I dont have Health insurance for myself because I am self employeed and only have 1 kidney. Nobody will even think about insureing me or if they will its 3K a month with tons of restrictions that make it worthless. So I am stuck with the bill that just came. Does 1400 sound right? I can tell you one thing if its not a mistake in a couple of years I am going to have to think about going faster than 10.00. 1400 to lay on a table with some sensors on me for a few min is crazy. And they say us mechanics are crooks.

[NewHemi]

Cost depends on several things.. Big city, lower cost. Doctor's office has an EKG and doesnt farm it out, lower cost. Doctor the reads EKG themselves, lower cost.

And every once in a while, I see newpaper ads that offer a community service health screen, and EKG for $150. When I got my EKG, I didn't even have a primary physician. So, I was definitely thinking about this option.

But be sure to tell them that you dont have insurance, and would appreciate any consideration they could offer.

And dont be afraid to shop around.

For a time, I was self employed (or unemployed, depending on who you talk to....) , and my last wife had no insurance, and would get things done for pennies on the dollar.

But if you can find a Doctor with whom you have something in common, and can create a bit of friendship, or at least mutual respect, it can also help.

David
The New Hemi Guy

[Rob Petrie E395]

I know I screwed up by not asking price first (My wife has remind me several times tonite of this little fact) I went to her because everybody from my old doctors office went to work for her when she opened up in town. She kind of took over my old doctors practice only in a different location. I figured knowing a bunch of the people and my records from before would help. She never even said a word about the price of the EKG(and she knows about the insurance deal because I told her). Just said I had to have it or she would not sign off on the NHRA or the DOT. Since I am helping haul corn to the river this month I had no choice because I needed my DOT card. At the time I figured it could not be that expensive. Very expensive lesson learned.