Dirty Little Secrets

07.31.2007

Three Bad Habits That Might Be Killing You

Everyone has their vice. Most people have several. Some habits are harmless; others may just seem harmless. The fact is many of your routine tendencies could have serious consequences for your health.

#1: Putting Off Cleaning Your Cab

Many OTR drivers travel over 2500 miles in their trucks each week, but give little thought to their environment on the road. Between driving, eating, sleeping and time spent with your truck baking in the sun; the environment within the cab is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. A recent study showed that the average steering wheel has more than double the number of bacteria as a toilet seat. By wiping the interior of your cab down once a week with anti-bacterial wipes you can reduce the likelihood of your personal environment getting you sick.

#2: Not Washing Your Hands

Throughout your daily routine there are hundreds of opportunities for you to contract germs and bacteria that have the potential to make you sick. Studies show that 75% of people don’t wash their hands after using the restroom, which is even more alarming when you consider the fact that the number of germs on your finger tips doubles after you use the toilet. To add to that, many people also rub their eyes and nose and bite their nails, making you susceptible to infection and giving bacteria the perfect moist environment to breed. Between table tops, door handles and hand shakes, the average person can accumulate as many germs under their rings and watches as there are people in Europe. Bonjour cold and flu.

#3: Neglecting your Teeth

We seem to treat our teeth as though they don’t exist. That is, of course, until something painful happens to remind us of their presence. Studies show that men are far less likely to get regular check-ups, which can have dire consequences. Poor oral hygiene has been linked to both heart attacks and diabetes.