How to Prepare for a DOT Physical

Even if you have already had a DOT physical several times, you will still want to be prepared. If you have no health concerns, you might still be nervous about the exam. If you fail, the impact on your career can be devastating. Even though it can be stressful, you will want to prepare for it properly. Continue reading to learn more about preparing for the DOT physical.

Relaxing beforehand

A good piece of advice is to try to relax. When the patient is stressed, there will be physical effects. That can impact how well the physical exam goes. If the patient expects the blood pressure to be high, stress can cause it to go up even more. Patients who are nervous before the exam can do deep breathing exercises. This can help to give them a sense of calm. That can also help to lower the heart rate.

Diet is important

Patients will want to stay away from energy drinks, tobacco and coffee for 24 hours before the DOT physical. Each of these items can raise blood pressure as high as 20 points. If the patient’s blood pressure is already high, this could be enough to push them over the edge. That makes it more likely that the patient will be disqualified.

Health history

Patients will need to have a good understanding of health history. The doctor will need to discuss this with them. Any health condition, such as sleep apnea or diabetes, should be discussed. The patient will need to bring along any relevant data from the primary health care provider. That might include information from heart tests or a CPAP machine.

The patient should also bring along a list of any prescription medications and vitamins. If the patient wears contacts, hearing aids or glasses for driving, these should be brought. The patient will need to pass a hearing test and a vision exam. Hearing and vision aids may be necessary to pass this portion.

The night before and the morning of

Before going to bed, it is a good idea to gather up all of the paperwork that is necessary. Patients will want to get enough sleep the night before the exam. If the patient is tired during the exam, the results may not be good. Patients should also allow plenty of time for getting to the doctor’s office. If the patient is rushing or dealing with traffic, the stress levels may go up.

It is a good idea to drink water before the exam so that a urine sample can be provided. The sample will not be tested for drugs, but it will be tested for blood, sugar or protein. This can indicate a health condition. The patient may also take a drug test during this time or another time.

Get a DOT physical today

The patient has a right to get a second opinion about the DOT physical. If the patient did not get a medical card the first time, another opinion can be sought. However, this does not mean the patient can look for doctors until someone will pass them. Making an appointment today is your first step.

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