As a truck driver, maintaining your health is vital for your job performance and your overall well-being. Certain physical problems are associated with your profession, so you need to invest in preventative measures and a commonsense fitness regime in order to safely stay on the road.

Weight Issues

Obesity may be the biggest danger that truck drivers face. Almost three-fourths of truck drivers are overweight while 50% are obese. Since obesity is linked to many physical ailments, including heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes, getting your weight under control is vitally important. Unfortunately, the daily life of a truck driver lends itself to poor nutrition and little exercise. To stay healthy, you need to eat balanced meals and avoid snacking on fast food. You're more likely to eat well if you pack a cooler with healthy food before you hit the road. Instead of consuming a candy bar, you can eat an apple or have some grapes instead. Having packaged nuts, low-fat string cheese, and diet beverages handy will help keep you on the right track. 

Exercising after being on the road all day can be difficult, but you do not have to hit the gym. Simply walking five times a week for thirty minutes can improve your cardiac health and help you lose weight. Remember that a little bit of exercise is certainly better than no exercise at all. Your job forces you to be sedentary for much of your day. You need to become mobile whenever possible, even when you are taking a five-minute break. 

Stress

The life of a truck driver is filled with stress. You constantly have to meet deadlines even when circumstance are against you. Weather conditions, road repair, and mechanical breakdowns frequently cause delays that can keep you from delivering your load on time. Stress can cause you to develop physical and emotional problems. In order to reduce stress, you need to keep your social and family network going while you are on the road. Expressing your emotions or simply enjoying a laugh with someone via a phone call or the internet can help you relax. You should also consider learning meditation techniques. If you still feel stressed out, don't be afraid to seek professional help. 

The life of a trucker can be hard on your body and your soul. Make time to practice healthy habits while on the road and learn to deal with stress in a positive way. You can be good at your job while maintaining a healthy body and outlook.