5 Health problems due to stress while driving & bull; hello healthy

Photo courtesy of: MensHealth

Stress is a form of body response or pressure caused by a desire, and we can increase stress if the pressure is not met. This can happen at any time, including when you are driving. While you are driving, you may encounter unwanted things and generate negative emotions such as anxiety, boredom, or feeling impatient to reach your destination. Without realizing it, this condition can cause excessive secretion of the hormone cortisol and can be dangerous if it occurs for a long time.

The impact of stress while driving on health

Stress level when driving is closely related to the length of time on the trip. This can be exacerbated by congestion conditions or public transportation areas that are too full and uncomfortable. If not addressed, stress while driving can cause various impacts, including:

1. Increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels - this is the impact of uncontrolled increase in the hormone cortisol. Stress conditions when driving are also caused by you being less active, as a result the body is slower to metabolize blood sugar. However, unlike blood sugar levels which can change, cholesterol levels in the blood can get worse over time due to continuous exposure to stress.
2. Increase blood pressure - Driving conditions very easily affect a person's blood pressure, especially when there is anxiety due to driving during rush hour. Stressful conditions with increased blood pressure every day can lead to the development of heart disease.
3. Sleep disturbance - feeling tired after work and driving can cause a decrease in the quality of the night's rest. It gets worse if you experience stress while driving at night due to the condition "fight or flight"Can make it difficult to fall asleep and become more tired the next day.
4. Trigger an unhealthy lifestyle - Even though we don't realize it, stress while driving is very exhausting because it tends to last a long time. As a result, you feel very tired and lose time to exercise. Stress conditions also trigger unhealthy consumption patterns because it causes the desire to eat more high-sugar and fat foods.
5. Back pain - The feeling of stress causes you to be less aware of your sitting posture while driving. If this happens for a long time it can cause various disorders in the back which are marked by pain.

How to deal with stress while driving

Even though it causes various impacts on health, stress while driving will be very difficult to avoid. However, this can be minimized by doing the following ways:

1. Changing perceptions about driving time
   This is the simplest way to deal with stress by realizing that travel time is unavoidable and a consequence of the distance between where you live and where you are going. Use the driving time to think and calm yourself for a moment from various activities that take your concentration. Also consider whether or not there are other alternatives to your journey such as taking public transportation, walking, or using a bicycle. Choose what you enjoy the most.

1. Listening to music
   Listening to music is one activity that can distract you for some time. This is necessary to reduce exposure to sources of stress on your mind continuously. Choose the type of music that you like and can improve your mood and make you more relaxed.

1. Make a move stretching
   Taking a few movements to stretch the muscles can improve blood flow and help you relax. Do this by contracting the tendons of the feet, fingers and neck and hold for 8 to 10 seconds. Do this several times until the muscles do not feel stiff or become weaker.

1. Eat healthy snacks
   Providing healthy snacks for the car such as chopped fruit can help reduce stress while driving, especially when you are hungry. Provide lots of snacks that contain lots of vitamin C because it can lower blood pressure and keep stress hormone production under control.

1. Get enough sleep
   The optimal energy condition from having enough sleep at night can help you deal with stressful situations better. Lack of sleep also causes you to be hungrier during the day, and this can make you more stressed when driving. If you come home at night, avoid all activities that can reduce your sleep time, such as watching TV at night.

1. Leave early
   By leaving early, you have more time to spend on commuting and can avoid getting stuck in traffic during rush hour. It will also help you calm down and reduce anxiety when unwanted conditions occur such as traffic jams.