Why it is important for a driver not to have heart problems

When I first came up with the idea to share my story about the importance of a healthy heart for every driver, I didn’t believe I would ever face heart issues. But as they say, you can’t run away from fate! That’s why today I want to tell you why it’s so critically important to monitor your heart rate if you spend a lot of time behind the wheel.

When the heart beats like an "alarm bell"

I think you will agree that a driver who is not feeling well can turn into a time bomb on the road. And it is not only a matter of basic attention, but also a banal state of health. When the heart starts acting up, concentration is lost, dizziness appears, and sometimes even more unpleasant symptoms. So I thought: "Why are we always so careless about these signals from our own body?" It would seem that we get into the car in an elevated mood, and a couple of hours later in traffic jams, our heart is already pounding and our blood pressure is jumping.

I've had my share of funny and not so funny situations while driving. Once, while driving a long route on a hot highway, I felt my heart pounding as if I'd just run a marathon. But then I decided to brush it off: I was tired, overheated, everything would pass. As I now understand, I was doing something very stupid, because it was an alarm bell. However, heart problems never ask when it's best to appear, right?

After some time, I started looking for a competent specialist who could give clear advice. And then, looking through reviews, I came across a useful resource with questions and reviews about doctors. There I found a contact Odessa doctor arrhythmologist, and decided: "Well, that's it, I need to take the bull by the horns!" It's amazing how much easier it can be to find a competent professional on a site where people share their real experience!

But before we continue the story of my adventures in doctors' offices, let's think about why it is vital for a driver to monitor his heart condition? As a person who has personally experienced what sudden heart rhythm disturbances are like behind the wheel, I want to warn everyone. After all, when you are on the road, no one except you is responsible for your safety. It is not enough to say "I am careful!" - if your health fails, the risk turns out to be much higher than we are used to thinking.

Why the heart is the “motor” not only of a car, but also of our body

We want our heart to work like a well-oiled engine! Imagine if a car engine "sneezes" and stalls, we immediately run to the auto repair shop. But if the heart starts to fail, we often give up. But the reality is this: a driver with a healthy heart is able to maintain attention and adequately respond to any road surprises. And a driver with cardiovascular problems involuntarily risks losing vigilance.

Time behind the wheel can be exhausting: constant concentration, traffic jams, lack of sleep, stress - all this is a direct blow to the cardiovascular system. Sometimes even the unusual excitement of stopping under a "no stopping" sign makes the heart beat faster, and what if something more serious?

I remember how I once got so nervous when a traffic police officer stopped me that my heart literally jumped out of my chest. Now, of course, I remember it with a smile, but back then the experiences were quite serious. And there are a great many similar examples!

Funny stories and my personal experience

There were times when I would start the morning cheerfully, get into the car and think: "Today everything will go like clockwork!" But as soon as I got stuck in a never-ending traffic jam, my nerves would give out and my heart would start producing "wrong" rhythms. Who would have thought that simple overheating in a stuffy car could result in unpleasant arrhythmia! You drive, you sweat, you get angry - an excellent combo for your heart, I tell you.

Here comes the understanding: there is no need to postpone a visit to the cardiologist. It is better to check everything in time than to bang your head on the steering wheel, repeating "why did I wait?!" Of course, I am a procrastinator, but severe tachycardia taught me to act quickly at one point!

To sum up the first part of my thoughts, I offer a short list of useful habits that help keep the heart in good shape. They were very useful to me at the time, and even now they help me not to relax:

• Regular short breaks along the way with mandatory warm-up
• Controlling the level of water in the body - drink enough water to prevent blood from thickening
• Periodic deep breathing exercises, especially in traffic jams
• Organization of comfortable temperature in the cabin - no stuffiness or icy cold
• Calm music or podcasts that help keep the nervous system in balance

Agree, habits, though simple, require constant attention. When driving, we often forget about ourselves, fully concentrating on the road, but the heart itself will remind you of itself if something is wrong!

How I Decided to Take Control of My Heart

It just so happened that driving a car and talking to myself in the car became my usual routine. But when my good friend saw me nervously twitching, listening to my heartbeat after a long trip, he asked me point-blank: “Are you even going to check this or are you hoping for a miracle?” At that moment, I realized for the umpteenth time that I was driving myself into a corner.

I took three important steps. First, I bought a tonometer, so that I could at least monitor my blood pressure at home and not flounder in guesswork. Then I found a great cardiologist who explained in an accessible way how to understand the difference between a normal reaction of the body and deviations. And finally, through the very site where questions and reviews about specialists are posted, I began to study different opinions of patients. This helped me to approach the choice of a doctor who suits me more objectively and generally calm down about the treatment methods. Let's be honest, there is enough unnecessary information on the Internet, but adequate reviews - you still need to look for them.

And you know, such a simple, it would seem, plan of action gave me both peace of mind and confidence behind the wheel. I no longer went into hysterics if a tense situation arose on the road. Of course, I did not get rid of stress completely - and this is impossible, but I learned to keep it under control. And my heart no longer beats like a driven horse.

What awaited me in the doctor's office

The conversation with the doctor was quite funny. I will cite the dialogue that amused me at the time:

Doctor: "What's bothering you?"

Me (with a little embarrassment): “Well, sometimes my heart beats like crazy, and I’m always behind the wheel… What if, God forbid, there’s an accident?”

Doctor (with understanding): “Okay, let’s see… What were you doing when it was pounding?”

I: "Oh, you know, at first I tried to knock on my chest with my hands, as if the contact there had come loose. Then I realized that it wasn't a computer or a car engine..."

Doctor: “Oh, if only people would take care of their hearts as zealously as they take care of their cars, life would be easier for us!”

The atmosphere was friendly, and I left there happy, having received a clear plan for prevention and treatment. It turned out that my heart simply “didn’t like” my tendency to snack on the go and constant coffee breaks. I had to cut back on coffee and add more calm to my life. According to statistics, most drivers who spend many hours behind the wheel have various abnormalities in their heart function, and all because of banal stress and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Practical tips for drivers to keep their hearts healthy

I've told you my story, and now let's move on to some recommendations that help me keep my heart healthy. After all, I want to drive comfortably and not shake every time a traffic jam stretches for several kilometers. I'll tell you right away: all the advice has been tested on my own skin, so I'm sharing my innermost secrets.

Below is a list of the steps I implemented into the second phase of my “wellness plan.” This is the part I moved to when I realized that I couldn’t do without consistency.

1. I cut down on coffee and energy drinks. I'm a big fan of lattes, but I caught myself overdoing it. I replace some of my cups with herbal teas or just warm water with lemon.
2. I made breaks "sacred". I used to be able to drive for 5 hours without stopping. Now I try to get out every 2 hours and at least walk around the car, get some air. A 5-minute walk works wonders!
3. I pay special attention to my posture. Because when you slouch and also press the steering wheel on your stomach, your blood circulation suffers. I bought myself a comfortable orthopedic bolster and can't imagine traveling without it.
4. I work on my stress response. Whenever I feel myself getting nervous, I take a deep breath and count to five before yelling at the driver who cut me off. It helps both my body and my psyche.
5. I included light exercises in my daily routine. A couple of times a week – swimming pool, in the morning – light exercises. Fewer attacks of tachycardia – more good mood!

These five points have become for me something like a set of rules that need to be followed so that the heart does not “take off” at the most inopportune moment. Of course, there were difficulties at the very beginning: the habit of grabbing coffee at every gas station, getting nervous at every traffic light – all this does not take one day to eradicate. But the result is worth it!

Another life hack: I always keep a small first aid kit in my car for emergency cases. It contains pills that can help lower high blood pressure or reduce sudden tachycardia at a critical moment. But here, of course, it is important to consult a doctor and not self-medicate.

When is it time to sound the alarm and what do we end up with?

I am not a doctor, but I have learned a few things from the experts. If you suddenly experience symptoms such as sharp chest pain, dizziness, and a feeling that your heart rate is “going out of whack” while driving, do not be afraid to stop in a safe place and call an ambulance if you feel really bad. Sometimes our heart screams for help, and we ignore it. Better to be safe than sorry. And other drivers will understand, don’t worry.

The main conclusion I came to is: timely diagnosis and prevention – the key to a calm ride and inner comfort. And this does not mean that you need to immediately give yourself ten IVs and drink a handful of pills. Sometimes it is enough to change your lifestyle, improve your diet and sleep, so that your heart sounds like a clock. But if there are alarming symptoms, then you need to go to the doctor without putting it off.

Personally, for a long time I thought that “it’s all nonsense” and “I’ll get away with it.” But the heart, although a small “motor,” can quite loudly announce its problems. Do we perform maintenance on our car? Yes! Then why not treat yourself to a regular check-up with a doctor? Just once a year is not so bad.

On the roads, we all want to feel confident, without unnecessary stress. For example, after I underwent a full examination, I felt a slight excitement to live more actively. After all, if the body is in order, then the car, as they say, flies faster, and the streets seem friendlier. Do not put off caring for your heart until the "first bells" - after all, we are smart people, right? Take care of yourself, do not be afraid to contact specialists, and let your heart work clearly, like a Swiss watch!

Stay healthy and don't forget: your peace of mind behind the wheel begins with taking care of your own heart. I wish you smooth roads, a good mood and friendly fellow travelers! This is how we - drivers from all over the world - will make the roads safer for ourselves and for those around us.