Wednesday, May 15, 2013

The Effects of Taxi Driving on Your Health & How to Improve Your Health



by Danielle Antosz

Tampa Bay taxi drivers have a tough job. While sitting down and driving a car all day might not be as physically demanding as, say, a construction job, it can still wreak havoc on your health. What is even worse is that many taxi drivers do not have health insurance or paid sick days. If you drive a taxi it is up to you to cover your health costs - even if your poor health is caused by your job.

The Effects of Driving a Tampa Bay Taxi on your Health

The fact is Tampa taxi drivers often spend as many as 12 hours a day sitting down while working a high stress job. This type of lifestyle is terrible for your health. In fact, medical studies show that sitting down for most of the day increases the chance that you will die by over 50%. Add the stress of the job and a poor diet eaten on the run, taxi drivers are at a serious risk of heart attack or stroke. So what can you do to improve your health? You don’t need to overhaul your entire lifestyle – even just a few small changes to your day will make you happier and healthier.

Eat Better

The poor diet of many taxi drivers is only part of the problem, but is still very important. First, you need to eat less junk food. It is awfully convenient to drive through during a quick break, but try packing a light lunch a few times a week. Even a sandwich and a few chips are better than a greasy burger and salty fries. Also, try substituting water for soda or coffee. Water contains less calories and also helps flush toxins from your system.

Get Exercise!

As humans we are not meant to be sedentary. Our bodies are designed to walk, hunt, and run. Sitting behind a steering wheel all day increases your stress level, causes heart problems, and results in weight gain. But, you don’t have to spend hours pumping iron at the gym. The Mayo Clinic says that a daily brisk walk can help you maintain a healthy weight, improve your mood, strengthen your bones, and help prevent heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

Take a Vacation

If you are a taxi driver, you know how stressful the job can be. And without paid vacation time, taking time off can be difficult. Think of it as an investment in your future – taking a few days off to relax (along with a few other lifestyle changes!) can result in better health for years to come.
Driving a taxi is not an easy job – drivers deal with long hours, high stress, and most drivers eat a poor diet. If you drive a taxi, it is important to take the time to take care of yourself. For your friends, and all those who love you.


11 comments:

  1. I think its a great idea to make taxi drivers more aware of dangers of taxi driving and how to prevent health problems related to their job.
    I noticed, that about 80 / 90 % of taxi drivers in Saint Petersburg smoke cigarettes and eat Mac Chicken or Mac Double sandwiches at Mac Donalds with midium or large coffee for $ 2.14,- its very inexpensive and caloric kind of snack, but its full of salt, fat and sugar and its dangerous in long run to health of taxi driver.
    I am not any different than other cab drivers in Saint Pete, but I have plan to quit smoking with acupuncture,- hopefully it will work and if it does I will let you know

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So, I kind of wonder, did you quit smoking with acupuncture?

      Mark B
      Taxi driver from Orlando

      Delete
    2. Nope, I am still smoking ....and can not wait to get that Obamacare health insurance.
      Insurance I used to have through my wife's employer forced me to give up on coverage because of rising premiums ......

      Delete
  2. taxi driver travis bickle quotes

    "June 29th. I gotta get in shape now. Too much sittin' is ruinin' my body. Too much abuse has gone on for too long. From now on, it will be fifty push-ups each morning, fifty pull-ups. There'll be no more pills, there'll be no more bad food, no more destroyers of my body. From now on, it will be total organization. Every muscle must be tight."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. hehehe, Travis was on the mission, only possible in the movie

      Orlando Taxi driver, age 51

      Delete
  3. I am looking for people who had been infected with hepatitis c in Tampa Bay / St Petersburg / Clearwater / Sarasota area without being involved in risky activities like drug injections or unprotected sex.
    Lets do some investigation, where we've got this disease from?.
    Please post information as a "anonymous" poster

    ReplyDelete
  4. you might want to join one of hepatitis c support groups in St Petersburg, I am pretty sure, you'll find more information there, than on this blog.
    Also, be careful about information you getting on internet, some of the sources are misleading.

    http://www.hepatitiscentral.com/hcv/support/fl/stpetersburg.html


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. for hcv try Essentiale and Mebeverine

      Delete
  5. Does anybody know good doctor in Tampa Bay / St Petersburg area who accepts HUMx / HMOx health care insurance by Humana? thx
    fellow cab driver

    ReplyDelete
  6. ObamaCare for taxi drivers, as low as $30-$60 a month, please read

    ReplyDelete
  7. Roslyny lecznicze i ich praktyczne zastosowanie

    ReplyDelete