Conditions That Could Exempt You From an Army Call-Up

Diabetes, chronic migraines and Raynaud’s are among more than 60 medical conditions that can prevent someone from serving in the Army. The issue has come into sharper focus after Britain’s most senior soldier warned that the UK may need a “citizen army” in the event of a direct conflict with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. General Sir Patrick Sanders did not explicitly call for conscription, but said preparing for a potential war with Russia should involve the entire country, describing it as a matter of “national mobilisation.”

MPs have repeatedly raised concerns about the shrinking size of the Army, which is now smaller than at any point since the Napoleonic Wars and continues to face recruitment challenges. Here, MailOnline looks at some of the common health conditions listed by the British Army that, in ordinary circumstances, could make a person ineligible or delay their application to serve.

High blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, is believed to affect around 14.4 million people in the UK — roughly one in four adults. Of those, an estimated four million may not know they have it because they have never been checked. The British Army lists the condition under “cardiovascular problems.” Blood pressure checks are available free through GP surgeries and, for people over 40, at many pharmacies. As a general guide, an ideal reading is usually between 90/60 and 120/80, or below 150/90 for those aged over 80. High blood pressure is typically considered to be 140/90 or higher, or 150/90 and above for people over 80. Readings between 120/80 and 140/90 suggest a person may be at risk of developing hypertension without lifestyle changes or other preventative steps.

Haemorrhoids, commonly known as piles, are swollen blood vessels that appear as lumps in or around the anus. According to the NHS, they can be caused by constipation, straining during bowel movements, heavy lifting or pregnancy. Symptoms may include bright red blood after going to the toilet, itching around the anus and noticeable lumps. In many cases, piles are temporary and improve within a few days once diet and bowel habits return to normal.

If symptoms become worse or last longer than a week, a GP may prescribe stronger treatments and check that the problem is not being caused by another condition. The Army advises people with “active haemorrhoids” not to join, or to delay their application. Common hospital treatments include rubber band ligation, where a band is placed around the haemorrhoid so it falls off, and sclerotherapy, in which a liquid is injected to shrink the piles. It is estimated that as many as 80 per cent of people experience piles at some stage in their lives.

Migraines are often experienced as severe headaches, usually with throbbing pain on one side of the head. They can last for hours or even days. Some sufferers experience warning signs before an attack, including fatigue, a stiff neck or visual disturbances such as zigzag patterns, known as an aura. Around one in seven people in the UK are thought to experience some form of migraine. In September, health officials said about 13,000 people with severe migraines that are difficult to treat could benefit from a pill designed to help prevent attacks.

Food allergies that require a person to avoid certain foods, as well as some intolerances, are another common reason an Army application may be delayed or affected, according to British Army guidance. However, the Army says applicants can still apply even if their medical history includes one or more listed conditions. It adds: “The medical team assess everyone individually, and make their decisions based on their professional opinion in keeping with prescribed army standards.” Unlike many chronic illnesses, people with allergies are often well between episodes and may be physically fit. But the Army cannot guarantee meals will be free from nuts or other allergens, and a serious allergic reaction on deployment could require other personnel to provide care.

More than five million people in the UK are believed to have some form of diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, is linked to excess weight and occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin — the hormone that helps regulate blood sugar — or when cells do not respond to insulin properly. Type 1 diabetes, by contrast, is not caused by being overweight. It is a lifelong condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin. Excess fat in the liver can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes because it makes blood glucose harder to control and increases the body’s resistance to insulin.

With Raynaud’s, freezing temperatures can trigger miniature spasms in your blood vessels, cutting off the blood supply to the outermost parts of the body. Usually the phenomenon attacks the fingers but sometimes also the toes, ears and tip of the nose. In rare cases, it can affect your nipples. 

Areas affected will turn white and eventually blue. Then, as blood flow returns, they morph into a shade of red. Attacks – which can cause a burning or tingling sensation and numbness – can last anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Warming up the fingers, or anywhere that has been affected, stops a flare-up in its tracks. Up to 20 per cent of adults are thought to have Raynaud’s.

Although attacks peak in the cold winter months, symptoms can be triggered by every day tasks such as taking food out of the freezer, air conditioning, or even stress — all of which cause blood vessels to contract. A small number of patients go on to develop a more serious connective tissue disease, scleroderma, which can cause disability and even prove fatal if not treated properly. As well as warming up your hands and toes, Raynaud’s can also be thwarted with a drug called nifedipine, which improves circulation.