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HEALTH &WELL-BEING

Other Medical Conditions

Due to the nature of their jobs, CMV drivers frequently suffer from other conditions, including back pain and hemorrhoids.

Manage Back Pain

8 out of 10 people experience back pain at some point in their lives. Medline Plus notes that back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to a sudden, sharp pain and can be either acute or chronic. Acute back pain comes on suddenly and lasts a few days to several weeks. Chronic back pain lasts for more than three months. Over-the-counter pain relievers and rest can help with the pain. If your pain is severe or doesn’t improve after three days, call your health care provider.

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases provides an easy-to-read overview of back pain.

Prevent and Treat Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids occur when there is too much pressure on the veins in the pelvic and rectal areas. Due to working conditions and diets lacking in fiber, truck drivers are at an increased risk for hemorrhoids. The risk of developing hemorrhoids can be reduced by drinking water and eating a healthy diet.

The HIC Digestive Health Information Center has 12 tips for truck drivers to heal hemorrhoids.

High Cholesterol

According to the CDC, 38% of American adults have high cholesterol. Having high cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are two leading causes of death in the United States.

Heart Disease

Heart disease can be undiagnosed until you experience signs of a heart attack, heart failure, or an arrhythmia. When these events happen, symptoms may include:

  • Heart attack: Chest pain or discomfort, upper back or neck pain, indigestion, heartburn, nausea or vomiting, extreme fatigue, upper body discomfort, dizziness, and shortness of breath
  • Arrhythmia: fluttering feelings in the chest
  • Heart failure: Shortness of breath, fatigue, or swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, abdomen, or neck veins

The CDC is an excellent resource to learn more about heart disease.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for energy. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases provides an overview of diabetes, which includes a description, symptoms and causes, risk factors, prevention and management, and more.

  • Type 1 Diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t make insulin due to your body attacking the cells in your pancreas that make insulin. You will need to take insulin every day.
  • Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type of diabetes; it prevents your body from making or using insulin well.
  • Gestational Diabetes develops in some women during pregnancy and typically goes away after the baby is born. However, women who suffer from gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

To learn more about diabetes, visit the American Diabetes Association and FMCSA’s New Diabetes Standard Overview Webinar.