Traffic Hurts Your Heart

There are few things I dislike more than traffic. I hate sitting in stop-and-go freeway traffic moving about five miles an hour. I hate taking an hour to get somewhere that should only take fifteen minutes. I hate the waste of time. I hate it when other drivers are rude.

There are a lot of reasons to hate traffic. It turns out that health reasons are among them.

A study recently published in Circulation shows that traffic emissions contribute to heart disease. It's particularly bad if you live near high traffic areas. People living within with 50 meters of a major thoroughfare are 63 percent more likely to develop heart disease than people who live over 200 meters away.

So what can you do to cut down your exposure to car emissions?

Well, if you're considering a move right now, you can limit your search to places that are distance from major traffic areas.

If you're not planning to move and you already live close to traffic, it's a good idea to use a good air filter in your home. Also, check on the air quality rating each day. It's typically published in your local paper or on a local news station's website. If the air quality is bad, choose indoor activities that day as much as possible.

When it comes to air quality and heart disease, your best defense is a strong immune system. That means exercising regularly, eating well, taking a good multivitamin, and getting an annual check up with your doctor.

Air quality has a real affect on your heart health. Unfortunately, it's one of the more difficult risk factors to control. You can counter the effects of poor air quality by making a real commitment to the positive health choices you can control.

Stay well,
Danny Wallace