Staying Healthy On The Road
We have talked about the importance of health on the road many times and we’re not stopping now. April is a great time to touch base with our health because it’s not only Stress Awareness month, but also National Cancer Prevention and Early Detection month. Not to mention World Health Day is also April 7th so let’s look at some other ways to highlight being healthier on the road.
Cancer Early Detection and Prevention on the Road
In April, we also focus on early cancer detection and prevention, highlighting testicular, prostate, and esophageal cancers.
1. Testicular Cancer
Some cancers like testicular, can be detected early and treated promptly. Testicular cancer is most common in males between the ages of 15 and 45. Familiarizing yourself with symptoms and how to check for them can help with early detection.
Monthly at home tests can be done to feel for any hard lumps, round masses, or any change in the size or shape of the testicle. This can be done on the road too, just take time once a month to check yourself, it’s easiest to do while showering.
2. Prostate Cancer
Cancer of the prostate is the second most common cancer among men. Checking your prostate isn’t as easy as checking your testicles, therefore visiting the doctor for regular checkups is the best path for early detection and prevention and should be a regular component of men’s health awareness. Family history, age, and other genetic factors can cause prostate cancer so getting checked yearly is vital for early detection and treatment. Some symptoms of prostate cancer include blood in the urine or semen, urinating more often than usual, and having trouble starting to urinate.
3. Esophageal Cancer
Cancer in the esophagus is also difficult to diagnose at home but still important to pay attention to. When thinking about truck driver health concerns, throat cancer may not be the first thing on your mind, but symptoms that are different from what you’re used to shouldn’t be overlooked. Some symptoms to look out for that might indicate esophageal cancer is vomiting after eating, chronic cough, trouble swallowing, chest pain, hoarseness and more. Exams and biopsies can be performed if you suspect the symptoms might point to cancer.
Oral Health on the Road
February is Children’s Dental Health Awareness Month, and since there isn’t one for adults specifically, we’ll unofficially make it part of April. Oral health isn’t usually the biggest topic for truckers, because it can often be overlooked which can lead to bigger complications on the road. Not having to deal with the anxiety of having tooth trouble on the road will bring great ease to your next run. Many truckers spend days, weeks, even months on the road which can sometimes make it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene.
Parking in a truck stop or a lot close to a gas station can guarantee access to a sink making it easier to brush and floss. In other cases, truckers aren’t close to a truck stop or gas station and must look for parking wherever possible. During these times it might be difficult to find a sink to freshen up at, and some hacks and tips might come in handy. The simplest solution is to always carry a bottle of water that you can use to brush your teeth and rinse your mouth out no matter where you are, if you can step outside or stick your head out of the window to spit.
Another option for keeping up with oral hygiene is to carry disposable toothbrushes that come with a kind of toothpaste on them that doesn’t require water. Don’t forget to floss whenever possible too. Not keeping up with oral hygiene can lead to pain and discomfort. Getting a toothache while working on the road would not be pleasant. If you have constant tooth problems, it might be beneficial to have a couple dentists looked up for frequently visited areas in case a flare up comes about.
