Study: Most rescuers in Latvia and Estonia are overweight, struggle with nerve problems
A joint study by Tallinn and Riga technical universities found that most rescuers in Latvia and Estonia are overweight, with many suffering from chronic fatigue and psychoneurological issues, Estonia's public broadcaster ERR reports.
A new study has revealed concerning health trends among rescuers in Latvia and Estonia, with most found to be overweight and many reporting chronic fatigue and nerve-related problems.
Joint research effort
The data was gathered through a joint study conducted by Tallinn University of Technology and Riga Technical University, examining the physical and psychological wellbeing of rescue service personnel in both countries. Estonia's public broadcaster ERR reported on the findings.
Key findings
According to the results, the majority of rescuers examined in both countries were found to be overweight. In addition, many professionals in the field reported dealing with chronic fatigue on a regular basis. Several participants also pointed to problems related to psychoneurological health.
The publicly available information so far does not disclose a detailed methodology, the number of respondents, or specific percentage figures — only the general conclusion about the situation in both countries is known.
Rescue work is associated with high physical and emotional strain, irregular schedules, and constant stress, which may help explain the health issues identified. Using the combined resources of both technical universities, researchers sought to assess how the specifics of the profession affect employees' long-term physical and mental condition.
