Overdrive

76 | Overdrive | April 2018 BETTER HEALTH N ausea is rarely a sign of something serious, but the associated vomiting and other symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and interfere with driving. Here are some of the most common causes. FOOD POISONING. Raw foods such as salads and other produce are often food poisoning culprits because harmful organisms on the food aren't destroyed by cooking. Undercooked or raw meat also can cause food poisoning. Symptoms include nausea, vomit- ing and diarrhea. These symptoms can start within hours or be delayed for weeks. Food poisoning usually lasts from a few hours to several days. STOMACH VIRUS. Viral gas- troenteritis, sometimes called stomach u isn't inuena because it's not aecting the respiratory system. Gastroenteritis instead attacks your intestines, often causing diarrhea, abdominal cramps and pain, nausea, vomiting and a low-grade fever. Symptoms can appear within one to three days after infection and last from one to 10 days. Viral gastroenteritis is contracted most commonly through eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by sharing utensils with someone who's infected. Dehydration is the main complication of these viruses, so drink plenty of water while sick. GASTROPARESIS. This condi- tion aects stomach muscles preent- ing your stomach from emptying properly. Certain medications – such as opioid pain relievers, antide- pressants and high blood pressure medications – also can slow gastric emptying. Signs of gastroparesis include vom- iting nausea acid reux abdominal bloating and pain, lack of appetite and more. The causes are often unclear, but a known one is damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the stomach muscles. The Mayo Clinic says this nerve can be damaged by diseases such as diabetes or by stom- ach or small-intestine surgery. Those who take narcotic medi- cations or have diabetes, a viral infection or thyroid conditions are at a higher risk for gastroparesis. The condition can cause severe dehydra- tion, malnutrition, unpredictable blood sugar changes and more. BY MATT COLE • To avoid nausea-producing conditions, wash your hands regularly, keep raw foods separate from ready-to-eat foods, and cook foods to safe temperatures. Avoid sharing utensils. Avoid contact with anyone showing nausea symptoms. Disinfect hard surfaces. • Seek medical attention if you have frequent episodes of vomiting and the inability to keep foods down, bloody vomit or stools, extreme abdominal pain or severe cramping, diarrhea for more than three days or a fever higher than 100.4 degrees. • Food poisoning often can be diag- nosed based on how long you've been sick, your symptoms, signs of dehydra- tion and specific foods you've eaten. Treatment can include I.V. replacement of lost fluids or antibiotics for certain types of bacterial food poisoning. • Because gastroparesis usually is caused by an underlying condition, the first step is for a doctor to identify and treat that condition. If diabetes is the cause, your doctor can help you control it. Certain prescription medications can help stimulate the stomach muscles. PREVENTION AND TREATMENT Common causes of nausea include food poisoning or a stomach virus. Preventing and dealing with nausea

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• FLIPPING THROUGH HISTORY | A small fleet owner’s collection of Overdrives provides a fitting finale for Wendy Parker’s last blog post.
• Business: Arbitration case to go before high court The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a lawsuit brought by an owner-operator that challenges his fleet’s requirement that disputes be handled via third-party arbitration.
• COVER STORY: Power plays Electric truck makers promise cleaner, more cost-effective tractors. Two years before the first vehicles hit the road, inadequate infrastructure and fueling capacity threaten to dampen the transition.
• Buyers welcome Economic conditions, tax changes, productivity pressures and equipment improvements have spurred a big increase in truck buying by owner-operators and fleets.
• ELD headaches Much has been made about the operational challenges of running under more rigid hours accounting with an electronic log. Meanwhile, truckers are experiencing a wide range of technical malfunctions.
• Severe service Heavy-haul and severe-service news from Volvo, International, Mack, Freightliner and Peterbilt, plus new products from Marmon-Herrington, Kyocera, Firestone and Toyo.
• Inspectors “putting people out of work.”
• Pulse: Make sure the grass really is greener.
• Conversations still evolving over 14-hour reg.
• Shut down by CARB, teacher keeps learning alive.
• Discovering a double- brokered load.
• ELD violations now merit out-of-service.
• Bill would allow younger truckers.
• ELD waiver extended for livestockers.
• Alleged fraud may impact 2,000 truckers.
• OOIDA wants rehearing of apnea case.
• Son earns back dad’s ’95 Pete 379.
• “Rubber Duck” Mack still quacking.
• Reader Rigs: ’16 389 on the “Edge”; a ’13 Coronado named “Betty”; ’15 389 yanks tanks; ’17 Coronado a heavy hauler; father-son duo’s ’04 W900.
• Gear Guide Hino to debut Class 7, 8 models in 2019.
• FLEET NEWS Fleets continue to hike driver pay.
• BETTER HEALTH Preventing and dealing with nausea.