Everyone knows that good health is the key to longevity. And, there is a direct link between how healthy we are and how well we perform at our daily activites.

One of these activities is getting behind the steering wheel of a vehicle.

"As a driver, always be inquisitive to your health and never take anything for granted," said Dr Ivor Davis in a recent interview. Davis, who operates a private practice in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew, said that it was prudent to get an informed opinion once you think something was wrong.

"Anything that appears or feels out of the norm, be quick to find out what's wrong, especially before hitting the road," he said.

Symptoms

Here are some symptoms that drivers should not ignore. Some may or may not indicate a serious problem, but it is better to be safe than to be sorry when it is too late.

1. Brief loss of vision in one eye: "Both eyes would signal a serious problem," says Dr Davis. "If there is a problem in one eye, it could be a fly or a mosquito, and this could cause improper judgement, and problem with the field of vision. A good eyesight is one of the vital attributes of a defensive driver."

2. Persistent cough: A persistent cough could create an imbalance in the car, based on the driver's action, and causes the driver to lose concentration. In addition to a chronic cough, the main symptoms are fever, night sweats, weight loss and chest pains. A cough which lasts more than three weeks could also indicate such conditions as bronchitis, allergies, asthma and possibly lung cancer.

3. Frequent night-time urination: Lots of trips to the bathroom need medical advice. If left untreated, diabetes could damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, and other parts of the body.

4. Severe belly pains: Typically, the pains from gallstones is felt in the upper right abdomen and sometimes between the shoulder blades. One doctor suggests that if an attack lasts more than five or six hours, the gall bladder may be severely inflamed.

5. Severe headaches: "A long-standing headache is cause for concern," advised Dr Davis. Driving with a severe headache is courting trouble around the steering wheel.

6. Difficulty swallowing: A problem swallowing can be a sign of cancer of the oesophagus. Studies have suggested that strictures are the result of repeated acid reflux from the stomach into the oesophagus. This can be a problem if and when it affects one's concentration while driving.

As drivers, we ought to be mentally and physically fit, alert, aware and awake at all times.

- Paul Messam