A social media post highlighting sudden cardiac deaths among auto and cab drivers has raised concerns about the cardiovascular risks associated with spending long hours behind the wheel. Health educator Prashant Desai claimed that six of the last 20 sudden cardiac deaths reported in one Karnataka district involved auto or cab drivers. He also said 14 of the 24 deaths examined were among people below the age of 45, raising concerns about the impact of occupational stress and lifestyle factors on younger workers.
Desai linked the reported pattern to several challenges commonly faced by professional drivers, including prolonged sitting, exposure to traffic-related pollution, irregular sleep and chronic stress. Unlike many workers who may have greater control over their schedules, drivers often depend on spending extended hours on the road to increase their earnings. He argued that this can make it difficult for them to take adequate breaks or maintain regular sleep patterns, potentially increasing their exposure to cardiovascular risk factors over time.
Dr B C Kalmath, Director and Head of the Department of Cardiac Sciences at KIMS Hospitals, Thane, said prolonged driving can contribute to several established factors associated with cardiovascular disease. Sitting behind the wheel for 10 to 12 hours can significantly reduce physical activity during the working day. According to the cardiologist, prolonged sedentary behaviour, particularly when combined with insufficient exercise, can negatively affect circulation and contribute to problems involving blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
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The concern is particularly relevant because several of these factors can reinforce one another. Long working hours may leave drivers with less time for exercise, while irregular schedules can interfere with adequate sleep and recovery. Persistent occupational stress may further add to the overall cardiovascular burden. However, the reported figures cited in the social media post do not by themselves establish that driving caused the deaths, and individual risk can also depend on factors such as age, existing health conditions, family history, diet, smoking and other lifestyle habits.
Experts and health advocates have therefore called for greater attention to preventive healthcare among people who spend much of their working lives on the road. Regular medical check-ups can help identify conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal blood sugar and cholesterol levels before they become serious. Drivers can also benefit from taking regular breaks during long shifts, incorporating physical activity whenever possible and prioritising sufficient sleep rather than consistently extending working hours.
The issue also highlights the broader challenge of balancing income requirements with health and safety for workers in driving-based occupations. Preventive measures do not eliminate the risk of heart disease, but identifying cardiovascular risk factors early can allow appropriate medical advice and lifestyle changes to be introduced. Drivers experiencing warning signs such as chest discomfort, unexplained breathlessness, fainting or unusual palpitations should seek prompt medical attention rather than dismissing the symptoms as work-related fatigue.
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