title: The problem of hypertension in aviators.
abstract: Any pilot who is found to have a diastolic blood pressure greater than 100 mmHg should be investigated and grounded or restricted to multi-crew operation pending control of the blood pressure. Those subsequently receiving thiazide diuretics should have their serum potassium level checked when established on treatment, and potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics prescribed if necessary. Treatment including beta-blocking therapy will require satisfactory performance testing. Cigarette smoking should be strongly and actively discouraged in pilots. High alcohol consumption is clearly hazardous and is a cause of hypertension. Useful biochemical markers of alcohol abuse include mean cell volume and gamma glutamyl transferase. There are abundant reasons for a conservative approach to new antihypertensive drugs in professional aircrew.
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents