Taxi drivers at higher risk of contracting heart diseases

• iveco

  12 May 05, 13:41

  By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia
  
  SINGAPORE : Experts say taxi-drivers have a higher risk of contracting heart diseases compared to others.
  
  This is because many of them drive for long hours at a stretch or are just too tired to exercise after work.
  
  But there are plans to help these cabbies keep their health in check.
  
  Lai Jun Meng, a cabbie for over 20 years, drives for up to 12 hours each day, leaving him little time to exercise.
  
  "We feel it ourselves, we at our age, if we lack exercise, staying in the vehicle for over 10 hours and no sweating, not good for health and might increase our blood pressure, diabetes," he said.
  
  But taxi drivers like him may just get their chance to do so.
  
  The Singapore Heart Foundation is working with a taxi company to get some 10,000 of its cabbies to exercise and monitor their blood pressure.
  
  John Cheong, CEO of Singapore Heart Foundation, said: "We are going to provide them with some blood pressure gauge, machines at some of the kiosks where the taxi-drivers normally settle down during their break hours.
  
  "These machines are actually meant for them to test their own blood pressure, their pulse, which we will provide some kind of book to monitor their own performance."
  
  Taxi drivers are encouraged to do this daily and they can also do simplified exercise routines during their spare time.
  
  Dr Low Lip Ping, Chairman of the Singapore Heart Foundation, said: "Most taxi-drivers are men and men in general are more likely to have a heart disease...they may be more prone to obesity.
  
  "Taxi-drivers, generally speaking are not young. They are usually middle age or older and age is also a factor."
  
  Coffeshops are resting points for taxi-drivers.
  
  According to one shopowner, most of them usually take a break for an hour or so, catch up with fellow drivers, have a coffee or two before heading off.
  
  Younger Singaporeans have not been left out of the healthy lifestyle drive.
  
  One in 10 students are overweight and as heart disease can also stem from obesity, the Singapore Heart Foundation will soon be introducing a skipping rope programme to 180 primary schools.
  
  It also hopes to raise $1.5 million this year to roll out other programmes for the community.
  
  In 1997, 67 out of 100,000 people died from a heart attack, and the foundation is hoping to halve the number by 2010. - CNA/de
• hseochin

  31 May 05, 01:28

  If that's the case, then bus & coach drivers even aeroplane pilots also as much if not more @ risk.
  
  

  Originally posted by iveco:

  By Rita Zahara, Channel NewsAsia
  
  SINGAPORE : Experts say taxi-drivers have a higher risk of contracting heart diseases compared to others.
  
  This is because many of them drive for long hours at a stretch or are just too tired to exercise after work.
  
  But there are plans to help these cabbies keep their health in check.
  
  Lai Jun Meng, a cabbie for over 20 years, drives for up to 12 hours each day, leaving him little time to exercise.
  
  "We feel it ourselves, we at our age, if we lack exercise, staying in the vehicle for over 10 hours and no sweating, not good for health and might increase our blood pressure, diabetes," he said.
  
  But taxi drivers like him may just get their chance to do so.
  
  The Singapore Heart Foundation is working with a taxi company to get some 10,000 of its cabbies to exercise and monitor their blood pressure.
  
  John Cheong, CEO of Singapore Heart Foundation, said: "We are going to provide them with some blood pressure gauge, machines at some of the kiosks where the taxi-drivers normally settle down during their break hours.
  
  "These machines are actually meant for them to test their own blood pressure, their pulse, which we will provide some kind of book to monitor their own performance."
  
  Taxi drivers are encouraged to do this daily and they can also do simplified exercise routines during their spare time.
  
  Dr Low Lip Ping, Chairman of the Singapore Heart Foundation, said: "Most taxi-drivers are men and men in general are more likely to have a heart disease...they may be more prone to obesity.
  
  "Taxi-drivers, generally speaking are not young. They are usually middle age or older and age is also a factor."
  
  Coffeshops are resting points for taxi-drivers.
  
  According to one shopowner, most of them usually take a break for an hour or so, catch up with fellow drivers, have a coffee or two before heading off.
  
  Younger Singaporeans have not been left out of the healthy lifestyle drive.
  
  One in 10 students are overweight and as heart disease can also stem from obesity, the Singapore Heart Foundation will soon be introducing a skipping rope programme to 180 primary schools.
  
  It also hopes to raise $1.5 million this year to roll out other programmes for the community.
  
  In 1997, 67 out of 100,000 people died from a heart attack, and the foundation is hoping to halve the number by 2010. - CNA/de

• 105090

  5 Jun 05, 10:41

  Plane Pilots can put plane to auto-pilot and goes to sleep or do other activities.. those more at risk are taxi drivers who drives 12 hours ++ each day, with leg cramps eventually leading to heart diseases, as they dont move their body, except their hands. Same as bus drivers who drive long distances eg. sv 51
• iveco

  5 Jun 05, 10:51

  Originally posted by 105090:

  Plane Pilots can put plane to auto-pilot and goes to sleep or do other activities.. those more at risk are taxi drivers who drives 12 hours ++ each day, with leg cramps eventually leading to heart diseases, as they dont move their body, except their hands. Same as bus drivers who drive long distances eg. sv 51

  Same applies to Svc 14 & 61 route captains.
• hmsg

  5 Jun 05, 11:01

  i guess that pretty much applies to those working in the service industry... that tends to be on their "toes" .... not to mention that many also do double shift to earn more.....
• 105090

  5 Jun 05, 11:05

  Originally posted by hmsg:

  i guess that pretty much applies to those working in the service industry... that tends to be on their "toes" .... not to mention that many also do double shift to earn more.....

  tose on their toes at least move around and stays more alert. staying in one cramped place is worst