The Health Challenges Of Police Officers

Unfortunately, as a consequence of the nature and scope of their work, superimposed on often challenging working conditions, police officers the world over are predisposed to suffering from a range of medical disorders.

Below I have outlined the potential job-related hazards and illnesses that police are exposed to, and suffer from, often unknowingly.

The job of a police officer is one of significant personal sacrifice, and we all need to have a great sense of appreciation for the men and women serving in our police force.

Infectious diseases: The prolonged wearing of and walking in closed shoes, in a hot environment, and the use of communal showers, increase the incidence of tinea pedis (athlete’s foot). Police are exposed to many persons during their line of duty. Exposure to body fluids, and being bitten or spat on increases the chances of contracting Hepatitis B, and HIV (to a much lesser extent).

Injuries: Such as training related (especially amongst recruits), bruises, lacerations, strains/ sprains, and burns.

Neck, shoulder, and low back pain: These are for the most part related to sitting for extended periods of time, manoeuvring with the police belt, and repetitive movements.

Motor vehicle accidents: Especially while patrolling or as a consequence of high-speed chases.

Stress/ depression/ anxiety/ post-traumatic stress (PTSD): The primary sources of stress include being called out to violent crime scenes, working shifts, office politics, lack of trust within the force, suboptimal compensation, financial issues, challenging working conditions, and inadequate and faulty equipment. PTSD is often experienced by police who have had a close on-the-job encounter with death and in officers who were exposed to a very traumatic experience.

Obesity: The incidence of obesity is on average 5% higher in the police when compared to the general population.

Type 2 diabetes: Because of poor diet, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, the frequency of type 2 diabetes is higher in the police than in the general population.

Hypertension: This is more prevalent in the police when compared to the general population.

Cardiovascular disease: Job-related stress, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, smoking, elevated cholesterol (compared to the general population), obesity, and sedentary lifestyles all contribute to an increased incidence of heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

Insomnia: Among police officers, insomnia is 3-5 times higher than in the general population.

Alcohol abuse: Internationally available data has shown that this is much higher among police officers than in the general population. The proposed reasons are the stress of the job, and alcohol consumption is often an integral part of many forces’ culture, especially when socializing with other officers.

Early death: In the US the average life expectancy of police is seven years less than the general population. Anecdotal evidence strongly suggests that these figures are similar in other parts of the world.

With the appropriate interventions, many of these health consequences of policing can be prevented and if they were to arise, timely and appropriate interventions can significantly mitigate the sequelae of these disorders.

Next Friday, we’ll look at: “The Health Challenges of Nurses”.

Author: Dr. C. Malcolm Grant – Family Physician, c/o Family Care Clinic, Arnos Vale, www.familycaresvg.com, clinic@familycaresvg.com, 1(784)570-9300 (Office), 1(784)455-0376 (WhatsApp)
Disclaimer: The information provided in the above article is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment. Dr. C. Malcolm Grant, Family Care Clinic or The Searchlight Newspaper or their associates, respectively, are not liable for risks or issues associated with using or acting upon the information provided above.