Arthur Wayland and his wife Tina haul air freight in his 2008 Kenworth T660 with 144" custom bunk.

Arthur Wayland, from Dade City, Fla., a trucker since 1997, hauls air freight with his wife Tina. The 47 year-old owner-operator had elevated blood pressure and worked hard to quit smoking and lose weight to keep it under control. However, in January 2006, after a routine D.O.T physical showed his pressure was dangerously high, he was referred to a cardiologist and eventually had major bypass heart surgery four months later. He took time to talk to Truckers News about his ordeal and prognosis.

TN: How did you first find out you had heart problems?

AW: I went in for a regular D.O.T. health exam. My doctor said my blood pressure was exceptionally high (185/90) and recommended I go directly to a cardiologist. That cardiologist performed a stress test and an echocardiogram. We scheduled a follow-up appointment for the results of the tests. Unfortunately, I made a very potentially dangerous decision to put off the visit, and it was three months before I actually made the appointment. Do not do that! The cardiologist said I needed an angioplasty based on the test results. My blood pressure dropped to dangerous levels while preparing for the angioplasty and after further investigation they found that two arteries were 95 percent blocked. Angioplasty was out of the question, and I had to have a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, two arteries. The doctor said I needed the CABGx2 in order to stay alive, and I had it in May 2006.

TN: What were contributing factors to your heart disease?

AW: I had quit smoking three years earlier and did not have a weight problem at the time. However, before that I did have a significant weight problem. When I found out I had high blood pressure, I lost nearly 50 pounds in five months. Other than high blood pressure, there was no family history of heart disease. I do think that my diet and sedentary lifestyle were contributing factors, but I want to make it clear, I am not and will not blame my job or career for my health problems. We all make life choices. We all have choices to make, and we can choose to eat healthy or exercise. My choices are my fault, not the fault of my employer, my career, the restaurants or the fault of the foods I choose to eat. The choices are mine and mine alone.

TN: Describe the symptoms you experienced?

AW: Interestingly, I had no symptoms! I have always been a huge coffee drinker, so my blood pressure ranged in the 140s\70s range, and I didn’t realize this was considered high. I should have known this information and taken a pro-active part in finding out about high blood pressure. I take complete personal responsibility about my lack of information.