Signs and Symptoms of Strokes and How Truckers Can Avoid Them
While strokes can happen to anyone, they are more prevalent in truck drivers due to the sedentary nature and lifestyle habits that this career entails. It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke so that you can get help immediately if you are having one. It’s also important to adopt some healthy habits into your routine so that you can lower your risk of strokes altogether.
Signs and Symptoms of a Stroke
There a quite a few telltale signs of a stroke you need to be aware of. Not always does a stroke present itself in the same way in all people. That is because a stroke can occur in different areas of the brain, and your body’s functions are controlled by different quadrants of the brain. However, the general signs of a stroke include:
- Sudden weakness or numbness in the arm, leg, or face, especially on one side of your body.
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
- Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, trouble balancing, or lack of coordination.
- Severe, sudden headache without a known cause.
- Sudden confusion, difficulty understanding speech, or trouble speaking.
If these symptoms are present, it is imperative that you immediately call 911. The available stroke treatments that work best are obtainable only if the stroke is recognized and diagnosed within 3 hours of the first symptoms. That means time is of the essence when a stroke is suspected.
How Can I Avoid a Stroke as a Truck Driver?
Truck drivers are at a higher risk for strokes because they spend hours in a stationary position with little opportunity to move and stretch, and it is known that strokes are more likely to form blood clots that can lead to strokes. But just because a trucker is at a higher risk for a stroke doesn’t necessarily mean that they will get one. Here are a few tips to keep yourself from getting a stroke:
- Lower your blood pressure. High blood pressure is the biggest contributor to the risk of stroke in both men and women. Monitoring blood pressure and, if it is elevated, and treating it, can be the difference in keeping your risk of a stroke lower. You can do this by reducing your sodium intake, avoiding high-cholesterol foods, and eating fresh and minimally processed food such as fruits and vegetables.
- Lose weight. Obesity and the issues that come from obesity can lead to a higher risk of stroke. If you’re overweight, simply losing just 10 pounds can make a significant difference in combating your risk of a stroke. Talk with your doctor to discuss a diet plan that works for you. Increasing your movement each day and eating in a caloric deficit will help you to reach an ideal body weight.
- Exercise more. Exercising gets your blood flowing and your muscles moving, reducing your risk of blood clots and strokes. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise 5 days a week. It doesn’t have to be all at once- you can break up those 30 minutes into 5 or 10 increments throughout the day. Make sure that the exercise you take part in is considered moderately intense, meaning that when you are exercising you are breathing hard but still able to talk.
A stroke is a debilitating medical emergency that can lead to permanent blindness, memory loss, paralysis, depression, and even death if left untreated. It’s important to take steps to reduce your risk of stroke so that you can continue to do your vitally important job of supplying our country with all the goods it needs to function. As a nation, we need you, and we want you to keep trucking in the healthiest state possible!