Starting now, count to 34. Someone in the U.S. just had a heart attack.
Count to 60, and someone just died of one form of heart disease or another.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year.
Not surprisingly, truck drivers can be prime candidates for developing heart issues: sedentary work, often irregular hours, problems eating properly, limited opportunities to exercise and stress.
But, there are things that can be done to reduce that risk. Numerous healthy heart organizations offer these tips:
- If you smoke, stop. Quitting smoking reduces your risk of a heart attack by half.
- If you can’t do any other exercise during your day, take a walk. Just 30 minutes a day, five days a week can deliver significant benefits.
- Eat oily fish: tuna, salmon, sardines, mackerel all are filled with heart-healthy omega-3 fats.
- Manage your weight with a balanced diet that is low in fat and contains plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Lay off the salt. Read the labels on prepared foods to find ones that have minimal amounts of added salt.
