The Risks of Being a Police Officer or Firefighter

It is the job of police officers and firefighters to subject themselves to risk in order to protect the people of their communities. However, most people in the community are not aware of the extent of that risk. We all know about the dangers of getting shot or losing your life in a serious fire. But what many people don't realize is that the general stress of these types of jobs causes a serious health risk to the majority of people who engage in these professions. One of the biggest risks that these people face is the risk of heart disease. Nearly half of firefighter deaths are caused by heart disease. Likewise, nearly one quarter of police officer deaths can be attributed to this problem. Some people believe that the stress of the job puts too much strain on the heart and causes the general risk of heart problems to increase for this population. Both police officers and firefighters undergo general health screening on a regular basis. However, at least one doctor believes that this is insufficient to provide them with the preventive health they need to keep their hearts in working order. And he's not complaining; he's doing something about it. A new pilot program has been launched in Texas to provide free screening to this population. The screening includes a variety of preventive tests including a heart scan. Question of the Day: Were you aware of the health risks associated with these professions?