General Health Questionnaire Template
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2HEALTHY HEART
WHY GO TO THE DOCTOR?
Within the last 10 years, there have been over 150 line-of-
A day on the job for a law enforcement officer is far
HEALTH
duty deaths due to heart attacks. Is your heart prepared for
from ordinary. The days are long, shift times can be
WATCH
your next shift?
irregular, and work often involves high-risk, high-stress
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situations. Because of the nature of the profession, it
is important for you to annually visit a physician to
CHECKING IN
Questions to ask your doctor:
FOR DUTY
ensure that you’re physically prepared and mentally
Based on my current age and health, please explain my
sound for the rigors of the job.
risk for heart disease and stroke. What can I do to lower
my risks?
Annual
“
wellness examinations allow
Is my blood pressure at a healthy level? How often should
early detection
I have it checked?
and treatment
risk
of modifiable
factors for
Can you explain what blood pressure levels mean and
heart attacks
where mine falls?
and other conditions”
– Rod Hilvers, MD.*
What does my cholesterol number mean, and is it at a
healthy level?
The current life expectancy of an American is 79
How often should I have my cholesterol levels checked?
years according to the most current data from the
This pamphlet contains a list of
What can I do to lower my cholesterol and/or keep it low?
World Bank, but according to recent estimates
from some health care practitioners, life expectancy
recommended questions to pose
among law enforcement officers declines to 66 years.
to your physician to ensure that
This shortened life expectancy may be associated
with stress, lack of physical fitness, poor diet,
you’re healthy and ready for the
irregular shift work throughout a career, and the
BLOOD PRESSURE LEVELS
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potential difficulty of transitioning from work to
job as a law enforcement officer.
CATEGORY
SYSTOLIC
DIASTOLIC
personal life after retirement.
(higher #)
(lower #)
Physicians may not be aware that their law
Normal
Less than 120
Less than 80
enforcement patients are dealing with unique
Prehypertension
120-130
80-89
challenges potentially detrimental to their health, and
High blood pressure
you may be unaware of how your health is being
Stage 1
140-150
90-99
impacted by the day-to-day aspects of your job.
High blood pressure
Stage 2
160+
100+
IACP’s
Alzheimer’s
Hypertensive crisis
180+
110+
INITIATIVES
Bureau of Justice Assistance
U.S. Department of Justice
This project is supported by Grant No. 2012-DB-BX-K023 awarded by the Bureau of Justice
Assistance. BJA is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the
CHOLESTEROL LEVELS
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Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention, the SMART Office, and the Office for Victims of Crime. Points of view
or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official
Below 200 mg/dL
Desirable
position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.
200-239 mg/dL
Borderline high
*This resource was developed with the assistance of Rana Parker, MPH, RD, Los Angeles Police
Department and Rob Hilvers, MD, Emergency Responders Health Center, Boise, Idaho.
240 mg/dL
High
Officer Down Memorial Page. Retrieved April 23, 2015 from
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American Heart Association. (2015, April 21). Understanding Blood Pressure Read-
2
ings. Retrieved April 23, 2015 from
HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/Understanding-Blood-Pressure-Read-
ings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp.
In both charts the optimal levels are the top numbers listed. When having your blood
National Institutes of Health. Cholesterol Levels: What You Need to Know. Retrieved
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pressure taken and cholesterol levels tested, make sure that your numbers fall within the
April 23, 2015 from
optimal ranges, and if not, make sure to ask your doctor how to improve/treat these.
articles/summer12pg6-7.html
Compiled with the assistance of the IACP Police Physicians Section.
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Parent category: Life