Pilot's most common Health problemHigh Blood Pressure Most Common Problem
High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular problem in aviation medical examinations.
CASA - FLIGHT SAFETY AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2001 (pdf)
"Middle age often brings the wisdom and motivation to take action to ensure you retain our health for as long as possible."
Dr David Newman DAME
Heart: Perhaps the most significant thing to be concerned with as you enter your 40s is our cardiovascular health. High blood pressure is the most common cardiovascular problem in aviation medical examinations.
The risk of developing high blood pressure rises dramatically in middle age. The significance of high blood pressure lies in it being a major risk factor for heart isease, stroke and kidney disease.
The combination of low physical activity levels, smoking, stress and age make high blood pressure more common in the 40s.
Heart disease is extremely common in the Western world, and is one of the three main causes of death. Heart disease becomes more common after the age of 40.From a career point of view, it can lead to temporary or permanent disqualification from flying duties.
There is a list of well-known risk factors for heart disease – age, gender, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, smoking, a family history of heart disease, and diabetes.While there is little that can be done about family history, age and whether you’re male or female, the risk of heart disease can be reduced substantially by taking care of the other items in this list.
In general, adopting a healthy lifestyle, with some regular exercise, a balanced diet, not smoking and having a sensible approach to drinking will help to achieve this. All things in moderation is not a bad rule to live by. If you take care of your health early on, you’ll be in a much better position to enjoy a long and productive flying career.
Dr David Newman is an aviation medicine consultant and Managing Director of Flight Medicine Systems Pty Ltd
(www.flightmed.com.au)