Traffic cops’ check-up: 405 overweight

A Traffic Police constable undergoes a spirometry test. (Source: PTI photo)

The annual health check-up for traffic police personnel has found nearly half of the participants from Ahmedabad city to be overweight. Around 904 traffic policemen from the city underwent various tests at the Care Institute of Medical Sciences hospital on Thursday.

Additional CP Traffic H G Patel said, “The traffic policemen undergo more stress and work in most extreme conditions. We have, therefore, decided to ensure that their health is on our priority. The traffic department will be doing one complete health check-up annually compulsorily.”

In their primary check-up, 405 policemen were found overweight, with their BMIs shooting above 25 and 30. Only four were found to be underweight. Unlike the regular check-ups that were carried out till now, where policemen were put through only blood tests and blood pressure reading, in this session the policemen underwent detailed ECG, ultrasound, endocrine tests, X-ray of lungs and more. Their blood tests revealed that 162 were suffering from diabetes. ECG results showed rise in hypertension and cardiac problems among them. While 157 personnel were found suffering from hypertension, 94 reported abnormal ECG and 131 were referred ECO tests.