According to recent researches, professional drivers are very susceptible to a wide range of serious health conditions due to the nature of their job. Apart from the long hours of extensive driving, professional drivers have to deal with the sedentary lifestyle which is makes them more susceptible to major health diseases. Nowadays, there is an increasing incidence rate of life threatening conditions including stroke and heart attack in professional drivers.
According to studies, professional drivers are at a very high risk for stroke. The condition is mainly caused by cerebral infarction and non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage. The non-traumatic intracranial haemorrhage is caused by a heightened level of systolic blood pressure which is very prevalent among professional drivers.
However, there is a higher risk for professional drivers that carry passengers compared to drivers that transport goods. Researchers concluded that stroke in professional drivers can be aggravated by high levels of customer stress. The high rate of stroke incidence in professional drivers is said to be mainly triggered by atherosclerotic changes which are known to be caused by mental stress and hypertension.
There is a minimal literature discussing the connection between stroke and professional drivers. However, studies show that professional drivers are very prone to suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension which is a major risk factor for stroke.
Bus drivers are said to have an excess risk for ischemic heart disease and coronary heart disease as well as stroke. The presence of these diseases in professional drivers is said to be triggered by several factors which include observance of unhealthy lifestyle, psychosocial stress, abnormal hours of working and lack of vigorous physical exercise.
Some scientists hypothesized that this condition can also be caused by an exposure to mutagens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These mutagens may trigger the onset of arteriosclerosis. City bus drivers are said to be highly exposed to excessive level of traffic generated pollution
What Is Stroke
According to research, patient dies every 6 seconds due to stroke. Also known as brain attack or cerebrovascular accident, stroke normally occurs when blood supply to certain areas of the brain is disrupted which results to the death of the brain cells. This phenomenon transpires when the small arteries found within the brain tend to narrow as a result of atherosclerosis, and heavy accumulation of cholesterol and plaques.
The blockage of the arteriole affects certain areas of the brain which causes the tissues to die. Eventually, the part of the brain which controls certain functions of the body tends to stop working. Stroke can also be caused by atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the hardening of the arteries that leads to the brain. Blood clots which develop within the heart may also trigger the onset of stroke.
What Are the Risk Factors for Stroke
According to research, there are lots of factors which can contribute to the onset of stroke. Apart from stress, other major risk factors include obesity, being overweight, long hours of working and smoking. Diabetes and high blood pressure or hypertension is also considered as major risk factors for stroke.
Who are at a greater risk for stroke? Men are more susceptible to suffer from stroke compared to women. Those who are over 55 years old with Hispanic, Pacific or Asian as well as African America descent are very prone to suffer from stroke. Those who have suffered from Transient Ischemic Attack or previous stroke are also at a greater risk for stroke.
People who use cocaine, birth control and alcohol are also at risk for stroke. Those who have a family history of stroke and high levels of amino acid in the blood can also suffer from stroke.
Driving After a Stroke Attack
Driving becomes a major concern right after a stroke attack. It can actually affect you and your family's safety. It is always important to seek for your doctor's advice before driving again.
According to the National Stroke Association, almost 80% of all stroke cases are preventable. Since stroke is more prevalent in professional drivers that carry people instead of goods, limiting work stress is important in controlling stroke. Driving hours should be carefully considered and hypertension should be controlled.
Make sure that your blood pressure is below 120/80. Anything higher than this figure should cause you an alarm. Apart from increasing your water intake, increasing your fibre intake also helps in controlling stroke. Always control your weight and make sure that the amount of glucose in your blood is at the optimum level. Stop smoking and control your alcohol consumption as these are major risk factors for stroke in professional drivers.
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