Sometimes the trust is weirder than the fiction, and this statement is not wrong. Can you imagine that the dream car which you have bought and also drive it for daily commute can make you sick? Well, to your amazement, it does. Our beloved car can also be a reason for several health risks.
Car travel can be fun but can be equally stressful too. The theory that car travel can make you sick is correct, and there are plenty of points that support this theory as well. To know how your car can make you sick, here is a list of things that you should take note of.
Becomes access points for germs
Have you ever given it a thought that on how many occasions your car has been dirty, driven or parked in a dirty and polluted area? All the external pollutants and germs come and deposit on the body of the car and also at times make way to the interiors of it.
When you come in contact with your car doors handles, steering, gear knobs, etc., the germs also get transferred to you from there. These can be health risking bacteria or viruses which can lead to some serious diseases. It is one of the most unseen and overlooked problems that your car can cause you.
Increased risk of depression
The everyday commute in your car to your workplace and back home can be dull and gloomy. To make it worse, the long traffic jams can even add woes to this gloominess.
It is found that drivers who have to commute a long time through traffic jams are at higher risk of developing anxiousness and depressive episodes.
Being confined in the close environment of the car for a long time can develop symptoms of chronic unhappiness that can disturb sleep patterns, weight fluctuations, mood fluctuations, and eating disorders.
The AC becomes a passage for germs
If you are not able to drive even for a minute without the AC on, give it a second thought thoroughly. The AC vent of the car could be a hiding place for several infectious viruses and bacteria that comes hurtling towards you when you turn the AC on.
The cold and moldy environment of the car becomes an ideal place for these germs to thrive, and eventually, they can make you sick.
You are inhaling toxic chemicals
When you travel in the dusty and polluting atmosphere every day, the chemicals and pollutants find a way to settle in your passageway. As a matter of fact, many of us do not realize that the new car smell that we are enjoying is actually enveloping the toxic chemicals.
Therefore, the car freshener that you add to your car vent is basically masking the smell of contaminants and making you sicker.
You adopt unhealthy eating habits
A car long trip can make you crave for food and drinks. You may think it is necessary for your road trip this habit is actually making you unhealthy. While stuck in long traffic jams, your hand automatically reaches out for some sugary carbs and comfort foods that can ease the stress of traveling. But this can increase the risk of obesity, cardiac diseases.
Increases risk of anxiety
Driving isn’t an easy job, and you become worried at times of something going wrong like accident, car break down or not reaching the destination on time. The situation can become panicky and induce symptoms like increased heartbeat rate, shaking, confusion, shortness of breath, and other difficulties during the journey and after it as well. Thus, these are all signs of increased anxiety that can happen while driving your car.
Australia Health & Medicine Blog 