August 23, 2016

Back to school brings more driving, carpooling, and traffic.

Millions of people commute daily by train, airplanes, buses, and automobiles. Thirty-four percent of Americans spend 45 minutes or more in their car each way to work, or 250 hours a year and that’s just getting back and forth to work. As our population grows our commutes continue to lengthen. This can lead to chronic stress that has significant health consequences.

Facts & Figures

• Commuters experience greater stress than fighter pilots in battle or riot police.
• One in twelve heart attacks is directly related to traffic.
• People caught in traffic are three times more like to have a heart attack within the hour than those people who are not caught in traffic.
• The chronic stress caused by commuting can cause premature aging and can accelerate your aging 10 years.

The 6 C’s of Your Healthy Commute

1. Classroom. Go back to school on your commute. Learn a language, listen to a new book on tape, increase your vocabulary. or take a class you have always wanted to take.

2. Choir Loft. Pretend you are on The Voice. Singing on your commute is great for your health. Singing gives you an immune boost by 240 percent.

3. Concert Hall. Just listening to your favorite music increases serotonin (a calming healing hormone of the body). Soft music calms the body and reduces heart rate. Energetic happy music stimulates your heart and body.

4. Counseling Center. Your commute is an opportunity to improve your mental health. This is a great time to change habits and learn how to heal; listen to tapes on anger, fear, phobias, grief, depression, obesity, divorce, or parenting.

5. Chapel. Use this time for spiritual growth, inspiration, or motivation. Guided imagery downloads or CDs can heal blood pressure and increase immunity. Meditation lowers blood pressure, boosts your immune system, and increases memory and creativity. Research shows prayer works. Send light to fellow coworkers, family, and other commuters.

6. Comedy Club. Download a comedy performance from a comedian you love to hear. Researchers found laughter increases artery diameter by 22 percent and your stress from the commute decreases the artery diameter 35 percent.