How to stay healthy at the wheel?

According to doctors, the majority of "professional" drivers of disease associated with uncomfortable driving position, lack of physical activity and constant voltage.
Many of us spend every day behind the wheel for a few hours and can not imagine life without a car. But amateurs and professionals lies in wait for a "bouquet" Driving diseases and ailments. And if the newcomers do not give medical warnings no value, then every year seniority drivers are becoming more attentive to their health.
"Avtopraga" trying to figure out how serious threat to the health of drivers and there are ways to reduce or even eliminate the risk of "professional" disease.
Not funny disease
"First of all the drivers because of the forced poses increased load on the spine. So the most common diseases - is sciatica and low back pain - warns Alex Kovalenko, physician medical commission "AlfaMed." - Also a very common illness caused by stagnation of blood in the pelvic area. For professional drivers employed full time by public transport and freight, the real problem is hemorrhoids. Maybe someone has this word, and raises a smile, but not in those who have known such a problem. "
Because of the frequent drafts or air conditioning running the drivers are often marked inflammation of the muscles of the neck and chest (myositis), which are accompanied by pain and muscle weakness and can permanently deprive a person of capacity.
"Oddly enough, the drivers and office workers are often similar set of ailments, which is a common cause of a sedentary lifestyle - is high blood pressure and varicose veins - adds Irina Kovalerenko, executive director of the medical center" Hippocrates. " - Suffers from drivers, and vision. Yes, and the nervous system in the modern rhythm of movement is very vulnerable. Numerous conflicts on the road, the emissions of aggression - a great confirmation. "
Preventive maintenance will help us?
Physicians believe that prevent the negative effects of long hanging out behind the wheel can be simple if you learn of exercises.
"I highly recommend drivers do after traveling a simple complex of five exercises, called" Five Tibetan pearls "- advises Alex Kovalenko. - All transfer them does not make sense, they are available on many Internet portals, give an example of just one. Stand up straight with horizontally outstretched to the sides at shoulder level with his hands. Next, begin to rotate around its axis until until a feeling of slight dizziness. Direction of rotation - clockwise. You start with 3-4 turns, maximum - 21 turnover. Believe me, "five jewels" really work! "
Almost all drivers have the opportunity to find time to relax at lunchtime, or after arriving home after work.
"A simple charge - a good preventive measure. Not only will drive blood, but also lead the body and mind in tone, focus the response. In my opinion, very effective push off the floor - will be a positive effect on your back and legs "- shares his experience Dobrolinsky Dennis, master of auto-tuning LLC" STO. "
Alas, like many other useful tips to make regular recommendations to follow the charge can not always.
"Unfortunately, to make recommendations on the periodic output of the car and conduct an exercise program is now almost meaningless. Hardly anyone will do, for example, creeping traffic jams on Kutuzov Avenue ", - says Alexey Kovalenko.
Stiffness against soft
Heavy-duty hours of driving ease the plight of the driver can correctly designed and adjusted chair.
"The harder and straighter driver's seat, the better - says Denis Dobrolinsky (" STO "). - It must be anatomically shaped with a comfortable and at the same time, sufficient to secure the driver's side and lumbar support, high back and headrest. Very important is a wide range of adjustments that you can choose a comfortable position for drivers of any height and complexion. "
"Today, we have already proved that the driver gets tired less, if the seat is not soft and hard, so-called

"German" and "European", - said Dmitry Balobaev, Head of Sales dealership "Avtopraga." - All modern cars, including a SKODA, front driver and passenger seats have some major adjustments. The urgent need - the presence of the adjustable lumbar support. During the movement of such support unloads the spine and back are less tired. A number of models with electric seat lumbar support can be tailored to the anatomical features of the driver. "
Of course, the best seat - made to order, to mold the driver's body. But this is an ideal that is only available drivers "Formula 1" and astronauts. In practice, many car owners, namuchalis the standard seats (this applies primarily to very old cars and domestic cars), lay out considerable sums of money to replace them with more convenient and physiological development of such well-known manufacturers like Recaro and Sparco, or less prominent , but more affordable brands.
"To quickly get used to the good. Most clearly feel the progress in the field of ergonomics driver's seat, when transplanted to the VAZ "classics" in a new foreign car. Convenience and comfort are not comparable, "- said Irina Kovalerenko.
Breathing and massage to the "fifth point"
This part of the back is an inexhaustible source of jokes, but seriously, the health of the driver is largely dependent on its air temperature. In winter, the seat must be pre-warmed, and in the heat need some way to provide ventilation of the back, loin and the "fifth point".
"On most modern imported cars heated front seats is already a basic" option ", - said Dmitry Balobaev. - However, carried away by excessive heating is not necessary. We recommend that you include heated seats only during the warm car. But the ventilation seat - it is a novelty. It appeared about a year ago on SKODA Superb car with leather interior. Ventilation seats - it's very hygienic function, especially when you consider that this task the standard climate control can not cope. "
However, every driver can improve the ventilation back, loin and nizheprilezhaschey area with inexpensive plates of wooden rollers, straw and similar natural materials.
"Heating and ventilation seat in the future must become the norm for each car. These features, I'm just positive "- sums up Dennis Dobrolinsky.
Some of the cars in top trim levels are equipped with built-in seat massagers. In addition, commercially available massage pads on the seat, connected to the onboard vehicle network. Workers' massage elements "are, as a rule, electric motors or solenoids with eccentrics. They are treated like little hammers back and switch to different programs. Muscle tension decreases, in the areas of massage resumes normal blood flow. However, experts recommend using these massagers only in a quiet road conditions, because they have some distracting effect and can reduce the number of driver's response in emergency situations.
However, many drivers are still doubts about the effectiveness of such devices.
"With all this variety of massagers I'm not sure if it helps, - the taxi driver Ruslan Anikin, a driver with 30 years of experience. - It is better in every 100 kilometers to stop, leave the machine to knead his legs and back. "
Be watched
Visual acuity, viewing angle and speed of the eye is directly responsible for the safety of drivers and "neighbors" on the band.
"The eyes of the driver is greatly affected by a constant voltage driving, especially at night, - says Irina Kovalerenko. - Even on a sunny day, your eyes get tired at least - not without reason in the heat of the number of accidents increases. "
One of the options for protection from sun glare - toned stripe at the top of the windshield. Though the traffic rules prohibit drivers and front windshield tinted side windows, this strip widths up to 15 cm are allowed to strike. Many car windows already have protection from ultraviolet rays, which further protects the eyes, and the driver's body from excessive heat on a hot sunny day.
"Athermal tinted car windows - something needed not only in hot countries, but also in central Russia. As you know, summer in the country +40-450 C - is not the limit, - says Dmitry Balobaev. - On many cars SKODA used a special technique of toning SUNSET, which is a thick glass, with some additions. This completely eliminates the penetration of ultraviolet rays and lounge respectively heating the interior of the cabin. The drivers are very flattering to say about this toning - it has to include the air conditioner less often. "
However, in the summer, many drivers prefer to further protect from the sun through dark glasses. They are especially relevant in the morning and evening hours when the sun low on the tinting does not help. It is recommended to choose the glass with a gray, yellow, green or brown tint. These glasses provide an acceptable color and increase the image contrast in contrast to the analogues with a pink or blue tint.
Another type of glasses designed for the driver - the so-called "antifary." They delay the ultraviolet rays and increase the contrast in bad weather, as well as reduce the effect of headlight glare oncoming car, so unlike conventional sunglasses are recommended for driving in the dark. The effectiveness of a controversial issue. For some, they are - an essential attribute of night patrols, others they seem to be no better than ordinary sunglasses.
We hope that in a panel discussion we were able to identify potential health hazards for drivers and ways to prevent them. Comfortable chair, adequate exercise and, of course, regular checkups can help even the rudiments of identifying and eliminating all the negative symptoms. The main thing - do not turn a blind eye to possible threats to your health.