Women Health Care Experience » Sleep Apnea

Fitness, Hygiene, and Diet For a Long-Haul Trucker

admin — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 11:33:43 +0000

Based on its research, the Transportation Research Board (TRB) says that obesity in trucking is rampant. In response to the research, the Associated Press notes that many truckers do not wear seat belts because their stomachs get in the way, about one in four have sleep apnea, and half of all truckers smoke, compared to about one-fifth of all Americans. All of these are risk factors for high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes. According to a study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 75% of truckers are overweight, and 25% are obese. Clearly, trucking poses a challenge for a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Martin Moore-Ede, a Toronto researcher, claims that truck drivers live ten to fifteen years less than the average North American male, who lives to 76.

The concern for lack of health and fitness among truckers even spawned a reality show on CMT called Trick my Trucker, where the driver gets a makeover and a guide for healthy living. Outside of landing on a reality show, is there anything a trucker can do to battle against a lifestyle that is not conducive to healthy living?

Trucking does not compare to a normal job. A long-haul trucker does not have the option of hitting Gold’s Gym after work every day, and few appear to have taken the advice of Chuck Norris with the purchase of a Total Gym. While there are a handful of drivers who pay attention to their health, the majority are among the unhealthiest eaters on the planet.

There are many reasons for lack of healthy habits on the road. For a National driver, spending three to six weeks living in a truck simply has a way of chipping away resolve. After working 14 hours, it is often difficult to muster the motivation to prepare a healthy meal. Fatigue and stress can highlight the appeal of comfort food in a restaurant. After veering off the path of healthy eating on the road, I can attest to the difficulty of getting back on track. Boredom and loneliness are the perfect scapegoats for an unhealthy meal or snack.

While it may not be possible to regularly get a gym-quality workout on the road, many drivers are taking a creative approach to avoid the dreaded “trucker’s physique”. A Wisconsin driver decided to start a walking routine. Instead of waiting around for his truck to be unloaded, he walked a mile or so into the nearest town. He also advises to park at the back of a truck stop. This forces additional walking in the course of a normal day. Another driver I met stored a fold-up bicycle in his truck. Not only did it give him an enjoyable way to stay fit, it provided added mobility during down time. It obviously worked for him, as he was lean and muscular.

The only limit to finding ways to stay fit on the road is the driver’s creativity. I have seen a driver skipping rope at a truck stop, and another pumping iron on a weight bench beside his truck. I even found a contraption on the Internet called a “Truck Gym”. A metal frame screws into the floor behind the driver’s seat, and a series of resistance bands and adjustable rods, supposedly, affords a total-body workout without getting out of the driver’s seat.

Personally, I carry a set of dumbbells and resistance bands on the road, and I walk as much as I can. I normally prepare my own meals, but I sometimes fall victim to an insatiable craving for the greasy fare of the road. The best advice for any driver is to prepare most meals in the truck, avoid fast foods and buffets, and exercise for at least a few minutes a day. Even Bojangles chicken, my personal weakness, seems a little less appealing when I watch a driver, with belly fat hanging almost to his knees, waddle toward the truck stop after having parked as close to the buffet as humanly possible.

Personal hygiene is another issue that proves challenging for some drivers. While there are those who swear they shower daily, I find it impractical to attempt a daily shower on the road. While it is theoretically possible, the sacrifice of sleep time would seem to outweigh the positives. My personal goal is to get a “real” shower every other day while doing a quick wipe-down with baby-wipes on subsequent days. For me, this is a more practical goal that I am usually able to attain.

The major truck stop chains are usually good about providing clean shower facilities. With the purchase of fuel, the driver gets a free shower. Among the nicest shower facilities I have encountered is at the Bosselman Travel Center in Grand Island, Nebraska. They are always immaculately clean, and they are almost large enough for a three-on-three basketball game. As an added touch, the staff leaves a pair of Hershey’s kisses for the driver.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I have encountered shower facilities that reflected a lower standard of work ethics. The most disgusting shower I ever saw was at an independent truck stop in Winnie, Texas. Used towels lay askew, and I would have bet that the shower’s last cleaning occurred during the Bill Clinton administration. I asked for my money back, and took a baby-wipe bath in the truck.

I have seen many drivers who neglect oral hygiene. It never ceases to amaze me that while all major trucking companies offer dental plans, I see so many with missing or disgusting teeth. I admit that it can be a challenge for a driver to keep a medical or dental appointment, but I would take some time off work, or even quit the company, before I’d let my teeth rot and fall out. I believe the majority of truckers care about personal hygiene, but some lend credence to the negative Hollywood stereotype.

A personal source of amusement to me is when I see a male driver flirting with a waitress or cashier at a truck stop while he is dirty, emanating a foul odor, his teeth (if he has them) are stained with coffee and nicotine, and his butt crack is peeking above the back of his greasy Levi’s. Still, he thinks he is God’s gift to women. As one driver puts it, “People, in general, are either nasty or clean. Their occupation has little to do with it.”

I tend to agree.

Weight Loss Benefits – The Health Benefits of Losing Weight

admin — Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:29:27 +0000

To be precise, weight loss benefits are immense. In fact, there appears to be a strong relationship between a persons sense of attachment and investment in fat loss and the potential for gaining from a pound loss plan.

The direct health benefits of weight loss are given below for the convenience of the reader, while the slightly remote links of the benefits are being discussed later.

Direct Benefits Of Weight Loss Include:

Lowers the cholesterol level Reduces the blood pressure level Decreases the risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke Prevents angina, chest pain that is caused due to diminished supply of oxygen to the heart. This can happen when excess fat blocks the supply Improved breathing Improved mobility Improved blood sugar level Enhanced agility and better response to physical alertness
Indirect Benefits Of Weight Loss Include:

* Reduced risk of several kinds of cancer that include cancer of the uterus, cervix, ovary and breast in women, while in men it includes cancer of the colon, rectum and the prostrate. However, it has not been clear as yet whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or because of a high-fat and high-calorie diet.

* Pound loss tends to improve Sleep Apnea to a great extent. Sleep Apnea, which can make a person sleepy in the daytime and can also cause heart failure. The condition can improve with loss of body weight.

* Pound loss can reduce osteoarthritis and allied problems that affect the knees, hip and other joints in the body. Obesity increases the risks of the disease as extra weight causes undue stress on these vulnerable joints, thus making them painful and non-functioning.

* Weight loss can also prevent both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that are silent killers. Patients suffering from these two diseases can once again lead a normal life when the extra weight is reduced and the blood sugar level is corrected.

Studies have shown that losing weight improves the health condition in many ways, and even losing 10% of the excess weight can make a difference in the way you feel.

Ambien is not for all types of sleep disorders

admin — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 14:28:45 +0000

Sleep disorders are unfortunately an everyday part of the life for millions of Americans, resulting in billions of dollars in economic loss each year. The range of sleep disorders, however, is very broad and if some people simply have nightmare and occasional disturbed sleep, others suffer from chronic insomnia and lack of proper sleep for weeks, months and even years. And if left untreated, these problems may affect the entire life of a person, resulting in serious health conditions and the inability to perform everyday tasks normally.

Having a good rest and healthy sleep is a natural necessity of the body for being refreshed and restored from stress and activity of the previous day. It is estimated that an average adult requires about 8 hours of sleep every day in order to feel perfectly refreshed from both the psychological and physiological perspectives. Of course, most of people these days believe that eight hours of sleep is a luxury they can’t afford, depriving themselves from the needed sleep in order to enjoy different activities (work, socializing, etc.) The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke reports that more than 40 million Americans experience different types of sleep disorders every year, a large part of which is not even diagnosed and left untreated. Many people will either leave the condition as it is, hoping it won’t develop into a chronic one, while others will use over-the-counter pills or order such prescription sleeping aids as Ambien online without their doctor’s consent.

Types of sleep disorders

Before you go to your doctor to request Ambien prescription or any other treatment, try to define the actual sleep disorder you have. It is important for defining the right treatment option and will make it easier for you personally to be calm about your situation. Here are some of the most common sleep disorders millions of Americans suffer each year:

Sleep apnea: this disorder is characterized by shallow or interrupted breathing during sleep that causes for the person to wake up regularly. Known to many as heavy snoring, this is in fact a serious health problem that can result in a stroke. If you happen to experience sleep apnea, don’t hesitate to consult with your doctor concerning a treatment, because the problem can have more serious consequences.

Disturbed sleep: in this case the sleep is interrupted during the night either by the problems in the windpipe (apnea) or neurological problems that make it hard for the muscles to relax. It is quite common in older people, who find it harder to fall asleep and wake up regularly during the night.

Insomnia: this is the inability to sleep or even fall asleep. Some people with insomnia manage to fall asleep but wake up too early without getting enough rest and can’t manage to sleep again. Others can fall asleep at all. This is a serious condition that results in loss of concentration, irritability, drowsiness and more serious health problems. Drugs like Ambien are usually effective in such cases. However, before you buy Ambien or any other sleeping aid, consult with your doctor.

Narcolepsy: is the opposite of insomnia as it’s characterized by having trouble with staying awake. A person suffering from narcolepsy can fall asleep any time of the day without even realizing that he or she is sleeping.