Tai Chi: A Possible Way to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Firefighters

Details

• Personal Author:
  Christianson J ; Davis LS
• Description:
  Coronary heart disease (CHD) accounts for 39% of occupational fatalities in firefighters (Drew-Nord, Hong, & Froelicher, 2009; Geibe, Holder, Peeples, Kinney, Burgess, Kales, 2008; Lund, Taylor, & Herbold, 2001). According to the United States Fire Association 2009 report, "Firefighting is the Nation's most dangerous and hazardous job, with heart attacks, high stress levels, sprains and strains all too common" (p. iv.). Firefighters must maintain high levels of physical fitness in order to perform the duties of protecting public safety, therefore the firefighters' health and safety should be a priority to our nation (Drew-Nord et al., 2009).The prevalence of heart disease in firefighters has been well documented in the literature; however, research has not successfully reduced this trend. Because firefighting job activities vacillate between a physically demanding job and one of immeasurable sedentary time, intervention such as Tai Chi, may be beneficial in reducing the modifiable risk factors of inactivity and hypertension in this population. Tai Chi combined with nutrition and stress education significantly cardiac risk factors (Park et al., 2009). [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Cardiovascular Diseases Cardiovascular System Firefighters Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Stress, Psychological
• Keywords:
  Cardiovascular System Disorders Fire Fighters Heart Disease Intervention Effectiveness Job Stress Physical Exercise Risk Factors
• Publisher:
  University of Cincinnati
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20052611
• Citation:
  11th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 14 -15, 2010, Cincinnati, Ohio. Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, 2010 Oct; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  11th Annual Pilot Research Project Symposium, University of Cincinnati Education and Research Center, October 14 -15, 2010, Cincinnati, Ohio
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:85e78d7dc2fd1afd3d8b15e8583a3259aa7d2c5d88acd687833a1e2b6d190a12cf7aaf7ec134a83425992cebb81dadef9f399def39be4515a20b173de4cc9bc5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/212117/cdc_212117_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 59.77 KB ]