Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/36447
FIT FOR THE ROAD re you at risk for heart disease? According to the American Heart Association, about 785,000 Ameri- cans have an initial heart attack and another 470,000 have a recurrent heart attack each year. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the U.S., accounting for more than one in every four deaths. Get a Handle on Heart Disease A Heart disease is the umbrella term for all cardiac con- ditions with coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common. CHD causes heart failure, angina (chest pain), heart attacks, arrhythmias and heart failure. As truckers you are par- ticularly at risk due to the sedentary, high-stress nature of your job. Risk factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, smoking, eating a high sodium/fatty diet and having a family history of heart disease puts you in a higher than average category for heart attack or other heart diseases. Are you having a heart attack? Here are warning signs: For John Shook, 43, it was his high blood pressure that inspired him to drastically change his diet and add exercise to his routine. “I hated the blood pres- sure medication I had to take and was afraid my high blood pres- sure would lead to more seri- ous heart condi- tions,” he says. Four years ago, the Mount Ver- non, Ill., trucker embarked on SIGNS OF HEART ATTACK a new road to health by losing weight and beginning exercising. He lost nearly 50 pounds and reversed his high blood pressure with help from Truckers News’ Fit for the Road program. Shook has kept his weight steady and today enjoys a healthy, active lifestyle along with normal blood pressure without medication. His success story is an example of the direct link between lifestyle and heart disease and the encouraging news that even small changes can improve your heart health. Here’s how you can improve your cardiac health by living a healthy lifestyle: 34 TRUCKERS NEWS AUGUST 2011 CAROLYN MAGNER EAT A HEALTHY DIET Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and limit salt in your diet. Eat foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol and high in fiber. For help: CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Pro- gram website, www.cdc.gov. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT Being overweight or obese can increase your risk for heart disease. To determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors calculate a number called the body mass index (BMI). For help: Calculate your BMI at CDC’s Assessing Your Weight website, www.cdc.gov. EXERCISE REGULARLY The Surgeon General recommends that adults should do moderate-intensity exercise for at least 30 minutes most days of the week. For help: CDC’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Pro- gram website, www.cdc.gov. LIMIT ALCOHOL USE Drinking too much alcohol can increase your blood pressure. www.cdc.gov. For help: CDC’s Alcohol and Public Health website, continued on page 74 JACKIE L. PRICE