For car lovers, driving is just fun and a chance to reach where there are no proper roads. But in reality, this is the poor life of truckers. They are among the people who need to understand their health potential more than others. Long driving hours, working at different times, and bad sleeping patterns are all directly affecting truck drivers’ health. So when your health is considered an investment, it is mandatory to know whether you are at high risk and how truck driver health insurance plans or medical insurance for truck drivers can help you in such situations.
Sedentary Lifestyle and Obesity
Basically, the trucker`s work — traveling, spending time behind the wheel, connecting/disconnecting the trailer — suggests a lot of sitting throughout the day. This sedentary way of work implies a lot of health problems, such as obesity. In fact, burning calories without doing any physical activity raises the difficulties of avoiding excess pounds. So, overweight drivers become at risk very soon of getting heart disease, diabetes, or joint damage. Actually, obesity is a direct cause of sleep apnea, which is a significant medical problem that can decrease chances to rest and stay focused while driving.
To avoid those negative consequences, the driver must exercise during his pauses or rest at night. Some stretching exercises, low-intensity walks, or some circuits with body weight greatly help the blood to flow.
Heart Disease and High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure and heart disease are a significant concern for a truck driver. When you add to the formula the bad food choices, the lack of time to exercise (and the extra anxiety), the heart is definitely in the way of other sicknesses. Prevent you can find the solution for diseases in a high percentage on the list of heart health tips for truck drivers.
Sleep Disorders
Truck drivers are often tragically sleep-deprived. Their schedules are unpredictable, the demands of the job are challenging, and the long hours behind the wheel of a truck can certainly rapidly decline into mountains of sleep debt. Sleep loss is bad for health, and it’s terrible for driving. Drowsy driving and sleep disorders like sleep apnea and higher risk of accidents and related incidents among truck drivers.
The catch? Make sleep a priority and ensure you are able to pull off a sleep-friendly schedule, take breaks, and get overall quality sleep. In the case of sleep apnea, health insurance for truck drivers that “kicks in” to help cover a sleep study or receive a CPAP machine can be a game-changer.
Musculoskeletal Issues
Spending one or more days in a car or truck can be quite the stressor on the body’s musculoskeletal system. The bumps, bangs, and bruises of the actual driving can lead to pain, inflammation, injuries, and wear-n-tear on muscles and joints. What are truck drivers to do? Two words. Stretch and Ergonomics. That really helps.
Air ride seats, ergonomic desk chairs, standing, and stretching will help truck drivers with the musculoskeletal pain caused by sitting.