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Trucker Health

My business “Safety Lane” (safety-lane.com) relies on truckers and the trucking industry.  With that in mind, I have decided to add a part of this health blog on issues related to trucker health.  It will have the opening “Trucker Health:”

With a life expectancy that averages 16 years less than the general population, truck drivers need to take a long, hard look at making lifestyle changes.

Even though I thought I was prepared for some bad news, the statistics were still pretty alarming. When comparing over-the-road truck drivers to the general population, here are the facts:

Life Expectancy (for men) 

• Truck Drivers: 61
• General Population: 77

Obesity

• Truck Drivers: 50%
• General Population: 35%

Hypertension/Pre-Hypertension

• Truck Drivers: 87%
• General Population: 58.3%

Smokers

• Truck Drivers: 54%
• General Population: 21%

Exercise Regularly

• Truck Drivers: 8%
• General Population: 49%

These stats are based on 2009 studies and, considering the nation’s obesity trends, the current numbers may be worse. And as most medical experts know, the resulting coronary disease, diabetes, orthopedic problems, sleep apnea, and other health conditions, often stem from obesity. We all know what the overriding issues are: too little exercise and too much fatty, greasy food. But since both of these issues are lifestyle based, they can be changed. It’s certainly not a simple task. Over-the-road drivers are being pushed by companies to get to their destinations faster which means more time getting your truck moving instead of your body. And it often means grabbing whatever food you can get at places not known for healthy choices.

Now here’s the good news: many fleets understand that healthy drivers are good for their business: fewer health concerns mean less sick days, and hopefully, lower insurance premiums.  In fact, according to TheTruckersPlace.com, some trucking companies have started to:

• Station nurses in facilities where drivers would be able to get blood pressure and cholesterol checks
• Offer financial incentives for weight loss
• Initiate wellness programs
• Replace sugary drinks in vending machines with healthier alternatives

These are just some of the new initiatives companies have undertaken to help their drivers develop a healthier lifestyle. And companies aren’t the only ones encouraging the change. Just recently, Oakstone Publishing, one of the foremost providers of multimedia education for healthcare professionals as well as corporate health and wellness resources, announced an alliance with Healthy Trucking Association of America (HTAA), the trucking industry’s leading authority on driver health and wellness, to increase awareness of driver health issues.

What’s clear is that government, health organizations, and private companies all agree that something needs to be done to improve the health, and hopefully the life expectancy of drivers. The obvious steps to take are to eat healthy, take in less calories than you expend in exercise, and get enough sleep. That’s easier said than done, so we’d love to get your personal stories of how making lifestyle adjustments changed your life. Hearing from those who have succeeded, or are on the road to success, can be very inspirational for others.

Sources: CDC and JOEM 200

via Blogger http://chiropractic-lane.blogspot.com/2013/08/trucker-health-new-blog-topic.html