Novartis Pharmaceutical Corp. has launched Blood Pressure (BP) Downshift, a free educational program tailored for professional drivers to help them achieve their blood pressure goals.

Novartis established BP Downshift in response to recent federal government regulations requiring professional drivers to have blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or below instead of the 160/90 mm Hg previously required in order to maintain their CDL (commercial driver license).
More than 65 million people in the U.S. have high blood pressure and almost 50 percent of those who are taking blood pressure medication still have numbers that aren't low enough. When blood pressure is too great, each heartbeat can damage the vessels and restrict blood flow to vital organs. Getting blood pressure down to less than 140/90 to 120/80 mm Hg or below may help people lower their risk of eye and kidney damage, stroke, heart attack and other serious health problems.
In particular, professional drivers appear to be at greater risk for hypertension and the ensuing cardiovascular complications than those in other occupations. Each year 75 percent of driver deaths are due to high blood pressure and heart-related diseases. Moreover, nearly 40 percent of CMV drivers who have worked for over 20 years have hypertension, but only one third of these individuals know they have it and receive adequate treatment.
“Professional drivers face specific health and lifestyle challenges that are unique to their profession,” said Robert S. Harshman, M.D., Corporate Medical Director at Southern Company Eastern Division/Georgia Power Company and at Trojan Battery. “As the medical director of companies that employ thousands of professional drivers, I know how important it is to help educate and inform drivers about the impact and effect high blood pressure can have on their health and ongoing employment.”
Novartis previously launched BP Success Zone, a high blood pressure education program for the general public, as well as a BP Downshift Employer program, tailored to industry employers to assist them with helping their drivers meet FMCSA guidelines. Through the evolution of the BP Downshift Employer program, Novartis recognized the need for high blood pressure education among independent CDL holders and extended this commitment to them as well.
BP Downshift was developed specifically for professional drivers to focus on their CDL health requirements and their overall health and wellness. The program reflects the critical input of key healthcare professionals and industry advisors who helped to make sure that the program provides the right resources and information for CDL holders.
Drivers can enroll in the program through www.drivershealth.com or by calling (877) 2-DOWNSHIFT.