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By Jovanda Biston
Those magnificent young men in their F1 machines are the talk of the town as Singapore awaits their arrival and the flag off the island's first Formula One race. Even at the end of a gruelling race, they still manage to jump out of their high-powered machines looking fit and fab.
Apart from the occasional penalty for breaking a rule, no one can accuse them of poor driving habits.
For us lesser mortals, however, poor driving habits can make a dent in our health. Mind Your Body spoke to doctors who said drivers should keep their cool and adopt good habits behind the wheel to minimise health risks.
Heart health
Always keep calm and avoid road rage, said Dr Yong Quek Wei, senior consultant cardiologist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Outbursts of anger can help bring on heart disease and even trigger a heart attack up to 24 hours later.
Listening to soft music or sucking on a sweet can help a tense driver feel a sense of calm
Speed devils need to slow down in the name of health. Not only is speeding to save a few minutes not worth the stress and the attendant higher risk of accidents, but driving fast also increases the adrenaline level and can cause palpitations and even lead to chest pains or a heart attack, said Dr Yong.
Excessive amounts of caffeine - from chugging coffee or other caffeinated drinks to stay alert - can hamper judgment, cause anxiety and even lead to irregular heart palpitations and chest discomfort.
Back to comfort
Sitting in a car is quite different from resting on a couch because when the vehicle is moving, the body is subject to different forces - accelerations and decelerations, lateral swaying and up-down vibrations, said DrFong Shee Yan, consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
To minimise back and neck discomfort, he said, have car seats with good lumbar cushion support for the lower back and headrests for neck support.
Car seats should recline at about 100 degrees horizontally, with the knees slightly above hip level. The driver's seat should be moved close to the steering wheel to best support the curve of one's back and to allow the knees to bend.
During a long drive, it is important to take frequent rest breaks and do some stretching exercises to ease the discomfort and pressure on the spine.
Keep eyes on the road
Protect your eyes, said Dr Vernon Yong, consultant opthalmologist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. He said: 'Wear sunglasses when driving in glaring sunlight. Our eyelids tend to narrow as a natural protective reflex to bright light and, over a long period, this can cause eye strain.'
To reduce eye fatigue, he said it is best to have adequate rest after every two hours of continuous driving.
jbiston@sph.com.sg
- Outbursts of anger can trigger a heart attack up to 24 hours later
- Car seats should recline at about 100 deg horizontally, with the knees slightly above hip level
This story was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times, on Aug 25, 2008.
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