Driving ‘bad for long term health’

London: Driving could lead to long-term health problems, suggests recent research.

Dr David Lewis, the psychologist credited with coining the phrase "road rage", warned stresses such as congestion and delays can raise blood pressure and lead to more serious issues further down the line. However, he said travelling by bus could reduce mental stress by up to a third and produce long-term health benefit. Lewis, of the University of Sussex, conducted an experiment with 30 commuters who made identical or similar trips as bus passengers and car drivers. Each time, he recorded their heart rate and anxiety levels known as EDR. The findings revealed average stress levels were 33 per cent lower on bus journeys. "EDR can be a hidden stress — it`s not as visible as ``white knuckle driving`` or audible as road rage,” the Sun quoted Lewis as saying "This type of stress can have long-term physiological and emotional implications. Boarding a bus can produce significant long-term health benefits," added Lewis. Alongside the data he recorded, Lewis also asked participants to rank their stress levels for each trip. Some 93 per cent said they found driving more stressful. "This study shows that driving in congested traffic now outweighs any previous benefits that driving in a private car once gave," added Lewis. (ANI)