Tampa Bay, Florida
Tampa Bay News: Extend health coverage to those who need it
Tampa Bay News: Extend health coverage to those who need it
They could be your neighbors. People who go to work every day in Florida — painting houses, opening the bakery, driving a taxi, waiting tables, working at a day care or running a small mom-and-pop business that's barely breaking even. • It could be you. • These are the faces of uninsured people in our state, of working Floridians who don't receive health insurance through their job and don't earn enough to buy coverage for themselves. • Too many of them have put off medical checkups and screening tests because they can't afford them, only to discover during a visit to the ER that they have an advanced disease that could have been caught earlier. Too many have learned the hard way that health is connected to your ability to work, and a vicious cycle begins when serious illness goes untreated......
Tampa Bay Cab Drivers: Unhealthy job
ReplyDeleteThe life of a Tampa Bay cab driver is hard. Many work long hours and don't have a lot of time to eat right. They often get cheap food from fast food places that are loaded with calories and not healthy at all. This results in many premature deaths due to diabetes and heart problems as a result of obesity. Another big problem for many cab drivers in Tampa Bay is that they don't make a lot of money. This is a big problem indeed, but luckily there are helpful solutions to this issue.
The good news is that it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to exercise well. Even a ten minute walk three times a day 5-7 days a week can be very helpful. For the taxi driver who doesn't have an adequate source of nutrition, vitamin supplements are a good way to go. Many vitamin stores including GNC have loyalty cards that'll save customers a lot of money in the long run.
There are even ways to have a quick and nutritious meal on the go. Instead of hitting up the drive through at the fast food restaurant, a cab driver can bring his or her own food. This can include a turkey or low fat bologna sandwich, a cup of soup to go, nutrition shakes, meal bars, etc. For more meal ideas check out this website. It’s also important to drink a lot of water and stay away from sugary drinks. Cabs have plenty of cup holders in them so cab drivers have no excuse not to always have water with them. Since bottled water can get expensive, drivers can buy a water bottle and fill it up every day before going to work.
Taxi cab drivers have one of the most stressful jobs there is. Any cab driver can tell you stories of rude customers and having to see and hear unpleasant things from the back of the cab. Stress only makes heart problems worse. Instead of having the radio on in the car, a cab driver can bring a CD of relaxing music. If this isn’t allowed by the cab company, the driver can also find a radio station that specializes in lighter tunes. Deep breathing is also an effective way to relieve stress. A cab driver can take deep breaths while waiting at a light while still being alert and focused.
Prevention and maintenance are key measures. It’s crucial to have regular doctor visits and heart screenings. If there is something wrong, early detection is the best way to avoid an early death. Cab drivers know where the doctor’s offices are so there is no reason not to go. The good news is that Obamacare is going to make insurance more available to those who need it, so money isn’t going to be an issue. Cab drivers probably have co-workers who also want to get healthy and build up a support system. They can encourage and hold each other accountable for reaching their health goals. There’s no reason they have to diet or exercise alone, and the more support they have the better.