Your heart beat quickens, you begin to sweat, and you’re having trouble catching your breath. Are you sick? Nope; you’re just stuck in traffic on the 101.
This popular highway in the San Fernando Valley area is actually the worst highway in the country for traffic jams, according to a report. The bumper-to-bumper traffic is enough to make anyone feel sick, but is it actually bad for your health?
Can Sitting in Traffic Hurt Your Health?
The average American spends about 52 minutes every day commuting to and from work. That comes to about 204 hours a year, and 42 hours of it is often spent stuck in traffic. Does all that time in the car being stressed out about crazy drivers and running late take its toll on your health? Turns out, it does. Some of the negative health effects include:
- Increased anxiety levels. You may think that having anxiety and becoming stressed about sitting in traffic is no big deal. Everyone goes through that, right? The reality is, it can definitely hurt your health. That stress can carry into other areas of your life, which can lower your happiness. Stress hormones also cause inflammation in your body, which can cause a variety of health problems.
- Your cholesterol rises. Drivers who commute 10 miles or more each way to work typically have increased cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease.
- Elevated blood sugar levels. Taking on this commute also causes high blood sugar levels in some drivers. Elevated blood glucose can cause pre-diabetes and diabetes.
- Increased depression. Having to go to work every day is certainly depressing for some, but the commute can actually lead to anxiety, depression, and social isolation.
Traffic Jams Aren’t the Only Things That Are Bad for Your Health
Involvement in a traffic accident also takes a toll on your well-being. Along with injuries you may have, the stress of bills and how your life has changed can be taxing. Fortunately, the Steinberg Injury Lawyers want to help. Contact us today to learn how.
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