Hypertension: Blood Pressure Issues for Pilots

Excerpts from AME Guide
Decision Considerations

Examining Options

An applicant whose pressures are within the above limits, who has not used antihypertensives for 30 days, and who is otherwise qualified should be issued a medical certificate by the AME.
An applicant whose blood pressure is slightly elevated beyond the FAA specified limits, may, at the AME's discretion, have a series of 3 daily readings over a 7-day period. If the indication of hypertension remains, even if it is mild or intermittent, the AME should defer certification and transmit the application to the AMCD with a note of explanation.

The AME must defer issuance of a medical certificate to any applicant whose hypertension has not been evaluated, who uses unacceptable medications, whose medical status is unclear, whose hypertension is uncontrolled, who manifests significant adverse effects of medication, or whose certification has previously been specifically reserved to the FAA.

Initial and Followup Evaluation for Hypertensives Under Treatment -
See Hypertension Protocol

Note: Numbers correspond to the required entry in the AME portion of the FAA Form 8500-8

25. Head, Face, Neck, and Scalp	42. Upper and Lower Extremities
26. Nose	43. Spine and other Musculoskeletal
27. Sinuses	44. Identifying Body Marks, Scars, Tattoos
28. Mouth and Throat	45. Lymphatics
29. Ear	46. Neurologic
30. Ear Drums	47. Psychiatric Conditions
31. Eyes	48. General Systemic
32. Ophthalmoscopic	49. Hearing
33. Pupils	50. Distant Vision
34. Ocular Motility	51. Near and Intermediate Vision
35. Lungs and Chest	52. Color Vision
36. Heart	53. Field of Vision
37. Vascular System	54. Heterophoria
38. Abdomen and Viscera	55. Blood Pressure
39. Anus (No Disposition)	56. Pulse
40. Skin	57. Urinalysis
41. G-U System	58. ECG (No Disposition)

Note: Numbers correspond to the required entry in the AME portion of the FAA Form 8500-8