Cardiovascular Conditions and California DMV Handicap Parking Permits

Qualifying Diseases / Conditions / DMV Handicap Permits: Cardiovascular Conditions and DMV Handicap Parking Permits  in California

 Heart disease / cardiovascular conditions and DMV handicap permits

Many people who have some type of heart condition qualify for a handicap parking permit, both in the state of California and in other states around the country. The question doesn't center around whether or not you have a heart condition exclusively, but how that condition affects your overall health.

What Qualifies You for a Disability Sticker for Cardiovascular Conditions in California? 

 Medical content reviewed by Dr Eric Jackson-Scott MD, Chief Medical Officer

In order to get a disability sticker, you have to prove that you are indeed disabled. Some people who have a heart condition are still perfectly capable of exercising and they are more than capable of walking through a parking lot. If you are one of those individuals, you probably will not qualify for a handicap parking permit even if you apply for one. However, you might qualify if you can prove that your heart condition makes it difficult for you to walk long distances. In other words, do you get short of breath when you walk more than a few feet? Do you suffer from specific cardiac issues such as a heart rhythm disorder or heart failure which both have a direct impact on your heart's ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body? In cases like these, it may be possible to get a handicap parking placard because it could put your overall health and well-being at risk if you are forced to walk long distances. It's also worth considering that certain places in California often experience a great deal of heat, something that can adversely impact a number of heart conditions. Therefore, this is something that might potentially be taken into consideration when determining your eligibility for handicap permit.

Can You Keep Driving if You Have a Heart Condition?

Having a heart condition will not preclude you from driving in and of itself. However, it will prevent you from driving if you are not able to do so safely. You may not be able to drive at all if your doctor determines that your heart condition is so severe that you could potentially lose consciousness at any moment. While it is rare for a doctor to tell a patient that they can no longer drive because of a heart condition, it is not outside the realm of possibility. However, it is much more likely that you will be able to continue driving, potentially qualifying for disabled person parking permit.

Do You Automatically Qualify for a Handicap Placard if You’ve Had a Heart Attack?

You may or may not qualify for a handicap placard if you have had a heart attack. Again, it isn't about the fact that you have had a heart attack, but how that event has affected your overall health since then (https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv-virtual-office/dpp-application/). If you are fully recovered and you are able to live your life in a fairly normal fashion, the chances that you will qualify for a handicap placard are relatively low. However, you are much more likely to qualify for one if you are experiencing ongoing symptoms as a direct result of your heart attack. In other words, you may qualify for a disabled persons parking permit in California  if you can't catch your breath when you walk through a parking lot or if you begin to experience chest pain or heart palpitations when you walk more than a few feet. By the same token, you may now be on supplemental oxygen because of the damage done to your heart muscle. If so, you will almost certainly qualify for handicap placard, provided that you follow the directions when applying for one and that you have proper documentation from your physician and your cardiologist.

What About Other Heart Conditions?

There are many different heart conditions that may potentially qualify you for a handicap placard. Having had a heart attack is only one example. You may have a chronic condition that affects your heart's electrical system or you may have chronic heart failure. In both cases, it is possible that you may qualify for handicap parking privileges. It all comes down to exactly what type of condition you have and how it affects you. Some people who have heart conditions live lives that are very close to normal. In fact, it isn't always possible to identify these individuals simply by observing them. The deciding factor will be whether or not your particular condition has a significant impact on your ability to walk long distances, breathe normally or have normal heart function. Any medication that you take to mitigate your symptoms may also have a direct impact on whether or not you qualify for a parking permit. Some of these medications can come with rather ominous side effects. Depending on how your medication affects you, you may be asked not to drive at all or you may be told that you can apply for a handicap permit because of the potential side effects of the medication.

How Do You Apply for a Handicap Parking Permit?

As in almost every case, the first thing that you have to do is get a diagnosis from your doctor. In this particular case, you will need documentation from both your physician and your cardiologist, as well as any other specialist that you have seen regarding your particular heart condition. Once you have all of that documentation in place, our HandicapMD experts will fill in and sign the Medical Provider’s Form of your application REG 195. and submit it in order to see whether or not you are granted a handicap permit (https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/application-for-disabled-person-placard-or-plates-reg-195-pdf/). In some cases, extensive documentation may be required from your physician. If that is the case, you will be contacted and told that you need to provide additional documentation. It is also common for people to wonder how do I renew my handicap placard in California.

Speak with a HandicapMD Physician Online for Your California Handicap Permits / Placards License Plates

If you are suffering from a heart condition and it has an adverse impact on your ability to function throughout your daily life, it may be a good idea to apply for a handicap parking permit. The general idea is to help you live your life as normally as possible. If being able to park close to a public building means the difference between being able to live your life normally or being confined to your home, the parking permit could make all the difference in the world in how you experience your life as you move forward.