February is American Heart Month and is meant to raise awareness about an issue of concern to all Americans, including truck drivers.
Throughout the month Truckers News will provide information on how to prevent heart disease, heart-healthy diet and exercise tips.
Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer among men and women, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), and truckers are especially susceptible to heart disease, due to the nature of the job.
According to a 2014 survey of long-haul truckers by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 88 percent of the drivers surveyed had at least one risk factor for chronic disease. Such risk factors include:
- high blood pressure
- smoking
- obesity
- high cholesterol
- lack of physical activity.
According to the AHA, 85.6 million people in the U.S. live with cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke.
So how can you take control of your heart health? The AHA’s Life’s Simple 7 program can help determine your heart health and what to do to improve it. You can find out your heart score here.
The Life’s Simple 7 steps are:
- Manage Blood Pressure
- Control Cholesterol
- Reduce Blood Sugar
- Get Active
- Eat Better
- Lose Weight
- Stop Smoking
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