Obesity
Truck drivers are twice as likely to be obese compared to other US workers. Being obese, or overweight, can increase the risk of other health problems, such as: Heart disease, Diabetes, Hypertension, High cholesterol, Sleep apnea, and Lack of physical activity.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure, or hypertension, is when your blood pressure rises and stays high for a long time, which can lead to heart damage and other health problems. It can also raise your risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States.
We found 26% of truck drivers said they have hypertension, compared to 24% of the US working population.
Sleep apnea & Fatigue
The most common medical cause of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
Specifically, among an estimated 14 million US commercial drivers,
17–28% or 2.4 to 3.9 million are expected to have OSA.