Healthy Commute

Do you commute to work? Then listen up, because that drive might be doing more than just aggravating you.

It looks like that commute might be taking its toll on your heart. But there is a way to help you fight back.

Researchers have found that the longer you drive into work, the more likely you are to have problems with your overall health. And more specifically those who commuted the longest, in a recent study, also had the most problems with high blood pressure and even ended up having bigger waistlines.

The reason behind this seems to be exercise. In this study those who had the longest drives to work also ended up being less likely to exercise the days they commuted. They had lower levels of overall fitness, a higher body mass index, bigger waistlines and higher blood pressure than those that didn't drive as far.

Now, you can't fix this by simply getting a job closer to home, but there are some things you can do to help yourself out if do commute to work. Sneaking in little amounts of exercise during the day can go a long way towards reversing the bad effects of a long drive. So, park at the far end of the lot and walk further to get into work, take stairs instead of elevators, stand up as much as you can when you're at work. You get the point. Doing these little things can do more than you think to counter all that sitting during a long commute and help get your health back on track.