How your commute effects your health and body

The stress of driving to work can take a major toll on a person’s body, health and posture. Does your commute effect your health and body? Yes your commute effects your health and body! Commuting has direct physiological effects of raising blood pressure and releasing stress hormones into the body. Long commutes, more than 18 miles one way, may also increase the likelihood of having a heart attack due to exposure to high levels of air pollutants, a risk factor for heart disease. 

Many people travel long distances to and from work each day. For example, in London, there are workers who will fly in and out from France and Belgium and even further every day just for work. Everyone who commutes long distances has their reasons. Despite the reasons for a long commute there are effects and costs. 

The biggest effects on long commutes seem to be stress related health issues, impact on personal relationships and work performance. Long hours of commuting, especially if driving, is associated with high blood pressure, musculoskeletal disorders, increased anger and resentment at work, absenteeism, lateness and an inability to concentrate and perform to the same standards as those who live much closer to the workplace. Long commutes can also increase the risk of heart attacks, flu and depression. 

Another common and long commute is from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and back for work. The Abu Dhabi-Dubai motorway is the scene of hundreds of accidents every year, many of them fatal. However, the risk of becoming an accident statistic isn’t the only potentially harmful aspect of the commute. 

Being forced to sit in the same position for hours puts a tremendous strain on the body. According to many chiropractors the lengthy periods spent hunched at the driver’s seat can lead to or accentuate neck, back, shoulder, hip and knee problems. Our bodies aren’t designed to sit for prolonged periods. When people sit in cars they tend to sit with poor posture and doing this for prolonged periods teaches the body that that’s its natural position resulting in poor sitting posture becoming a habit. Many people are already sitting long hours at a desk for work. Adding a couple of more hours to that sitting behind a steering wheel makes matters worse. The proportion of commuters who complain of pain, dizziness, exhaustion and sleep deprivation is twice as high as for non-commuters. 

Some of the more common ways your commute effects your health and body are higher blood pressure, anxiety, lack of sleep, back pain, neck pain, muscles spasms and stiffness in the joints. Sitting for long periods in a car can result in spinal compression, placing significant stress on the lower spine. This could lead to spinal disc and joint degeneration, sciatica and muscle spasms. While no commuting is the best option to combat the effects of a long commute, it is not always feasible. Some things that can help are, not to eat while on the road. Have fresh water in the car. To try and prevent the onset of musculoskeletal disorders and anxiety caused by commuting some sort of physical activity and exercise throughout the day is advisable. The emphasis placed on posture, core strength and stability in Pilates is a good option. The stress relieving and energizing components of Pilates can only help minimize the anxiety caused by a long commute to work.