7 ways your car is making you sick

Car travel is in equal parts fun and stressful! While a card ride helps people relax and destress, the long commute hours and the traffic jams can take a toll on you. Traveling in a car may seem convenient but at the same time, it can also be the reason for you to catch germs and illnesses. We list down some sneaky ways your car is proving to be a health hazard:

Think about the number of times you touch the car which has been parked in a dusty, polluted environment and the number of times your hands come in contact with the surface. A car, much like a public bathroom or toilet (or the phone screen) is an access point for germs, fecal residue and small viruses to settle in and manifest problems. It is just so gross!

To stay safe and clean from the germs, it is very important to sanitize and deep clean your car after long rides and regular trips, much like you would do with your home. If you are ignoring this crucial step, you are putting yourself at a big risk!

Is your everyday commute and route making you feel dull and gloomy? Pay attention. According to newer studies, the longer your route is, lesser is your happiness score. Research has found that people who drive for a minimum of 50-90 minutes on a daily basis are at the highest risk of developing a negative attitude and go through anxious and depressive episodes. Confined to a closed environment on a long route has been linked to symptoms of chronic unhappiness, which has been further linked to bad sleeping patterns, weight fluctuations, eating disorders and mood fluctuations.

If you can't survive without the AC running in the car, we hate to break it to you but you are attracting a lot many diseases spreading and breeding bacteria and viruses towards you. The closed AC vents are a good hiding place for germs to lurk in and spread infections like cough, cold and wheezing. Even when the AC blows out hot air, it just increases the risk for germs to survive in the moldy environment.

Considering the dust and pollution which you travel in every day, chemicals and soot find a way to settle in your passageways and end up harming you. In fact, what most of us do not realize is that fresheners in the vehicle which give out the 'new car smell' are actually just masking the toxic chemicals. So the next time you brag about that musky fragrance in your car, think again.

What is a car trip without some snacks or drinks opened along the way? While this feels like a part of the necessary road trip checklist, this habit is actually costing you. When you are sitting idle or facing stressful traffic situations, you are bound to reach out for carbs and comfort foods, even when you are not really hungry, contributing to unhealthy cravings.

In fact, according to studies conducted across Canada, those who consumed sugary sodas and salty snacks were at a higher risk for developing cardiac problems and obesity than those who didn't. Considering all the time you end up sitting for long hours without stretching, coupled with bad eating habits, you are making yourself sick.

The best option remains to keep yourself hydrated en route. This will also cut down on the hunger pangs and the cravings which develop out of stress.

Driving is not an easy job and there's always the fear of something going wrong, car horns beeping at you or not being in control of the wheel. In such panicky situations, when you have to make decisions in a split second, driving anxiety can be experienced. Sweating, racing heart rate, shaking, confusion, shortness of breath can make the journey difficult and further lead to a host of health problems.

A good way to deal with this is to cut out foods or triggers that can increase the risk of anxiety before you get behind the wheel. When you are more in control of your route and plan, driving gets a little easier.

Now this one needs no introduction. Getting stuck in never-ending traffic jams or a tiff with another driver can test your patience levels. The way you react to them can shoot up your blood pressure, test your nerves and even put you in a bad mood. If not controlled in time, road rage can drive you to take extreme steps as well.