Discriminating physical fail

I am a slim and fit driver and guess what? You're right, I breeze thru my DOT physical every two years. I don't have to deal with getting my blood gasses tested (I didn't even know that was a thing). I also don't have hypertension or diabetes. I put in extra effort to stay fit and eat right and keep my body in good condition.

To derwood: politics has nothing to do with poor lifestyle choices

 

I think his medical history had more to do with the extra testing than being overweight.

 

I think his being overweight has everything to do with his medical history. That's the point that i was trying to make.

 

Most company doctors are instructed to PASS drivers at any an all cost by the compaines themselves, mainly because OTR companies are always desperate for seat fillers. If you're denied a medical card at the hands of a company doc than you're probably REALLY unhealthy and you definately SHOULD NOT be out there on the road 10 hours a day...

 

Ghey...

but no, I see drivers doing laps, jogging and using the gym facilites all the time at the truck stops. a life on the road doesn't necessarily have to equate to a life of obesity and poor health...

 

Being overweight does not mean you wont have these issue, just like being slim doesn't mean you're exempt from having any of these issues. There are a lot of factors that play a roll in this.

 

Youre right, there are always exceptions. But being overweight comes with a MUCH higher probability of having issues such as diabetes (type II), high blood pressure, and heart disease. I just get irritated when people try to blame "the doctors" or "the company" or worst of all "the government" for their situation instead of taking personal responsibility and getting healthy. For most people who have the health problems that I previously mentioned, those problems would go away if they'd lose weight and eat right. I know it's not easy to do living on the road, but it can be done.

 

Do you know what genetics are? For some they might be born with a poor performing pancreas or their thyroid might die causing all kinds of problems leading to obesity. When you get in your late forties all kind of weird things can happen to your body. I can show you whole families that don't make it much past their 50's.

I have had one truck driving friend that might of went 150 lbs. He died at 62 from brain cancer. I know two more truck drivers that were skinny and kicked over from heart attacks. You are not exempt. Some mistake a high metabolism rate for good health.

Look at your family history is a good clue. My father who wasn't 150 lbs died at 46 from a heart attack. My mothers side every single one of her siblings, parents, aunts and uncles are all over weight. Do they go to the buffet everyday? No, it's coded into their genes. They are blessed with dying thyroids and a low metabolism.

I stayed in shape until 45 until everything changed. My weight went from 185 to 270 in a short time. Now that I'm home and only eat twice a day a strict diet I only lost 30 lbs.

When you turn 50 if you remember come back and post in this thread! I bet you'll think differently.

Your purpose in this thread is to ridicule. Where's your compassion?

Yes many truckers are overweight but not all are buffet kings. So how do you distinguish the difference between buffet and genetics?

 

The PO2 is the oxygen level in the arterial blood gas he is referring to.

63 is low, meaning his lungs are sick and are not moving oxygen through to the body like they should... he mentionioned pulmonary (lung) hypertension (which kills people) Yes, his lungs are sick. On top of diabetes, and a cardiac condition. This guy has some serious health issues people!

Being overweight is not good for any of these health conditions, all of which are serious health conditions. Losing weight would probably be of a big help on improving these things.

I'm not knocking anyone for being overweight, I'm overweight and know how hard it is to lose weight.

This driver should be looking into another work field, his health is gonna force him out of trucking soon.