Everyday Complaints Science Can’t Cure

Modern medicine has come so far, but we still can’t cure some of the most common human afflictions. Odd.Modern medical science is a wonder. Seriously, we live in a time where AIDS is no longer a death sentence and many types of cancers can be sent right into remission. Considering that the effects of antibiotics were first observed only about 135 years ago, the subsequent advances in medicine are nothing short of astounding.

The thing is, there are still plenty of medical complaints science can’t get rid of - and we’re not talking about insidious tropical diseases that affect about three people. We’re talking about common everyday things that affect everyone. Minor, albeit annoying things. Sure, we can treat symptoms to make you more comfortable, or prescribe drugs that will help you along during recovery, but we just can’t seem to get to the root of silly little things like:

The Common Cold

The common cold has been around since mankind itself. Most adults get one or two every year, and kids can get two or three times as many. Much less serious than the flu, which can actually kill you, the common cold usually runs its course in a week or two - but during that time, you’re miserable.

Millions of hours of lost productivity result every year from people taking time off work due to a cold, or because they have to stay home with a sick child. Not to mention the fact that secondary infections can erupt while your immune system is stressed and you could end up with ear, sinus, or throat infections. It would be so much better just to take some pills and make it go away, right?

Well, antibiotics are ineffective, because colds are caused by viruses, not bacteria. Antivirals are a shaky therapy because choosing the right one relies on knowing just what virus is causing the problem. Although rhinovirus is most common, there are about 200 viruses that could be at work.

The effects you feel from the cold are actually caused by your body fighting it off, not from any actual direct damage caused by the virus. So you can take medicines to make you feel less congested, sleepy, feverish and sore, but ultimately, you just have to let the virus wear itself out.

Bruising

Everyone gets bruises, and the more klutzy among us may get them daily. So you walked into the coffee table, big deal, right? It’ll go away. Well, try telling that to someone with a bruised rib, or multiple contusions from a car accident. Bruises aren’t always minor - they can be very, very big deals, making things like inhaling excruciatingly painful. And nothing makes it go away except time.

Bruises are the result of broken blood vessels under the skin, usually from trauma, but clotting disorders can cause them too. There’s just nothing science can do to fix it outside Star Trek, so treatment is aimed at alleviating pain and encouraging circulation to the area to promote healing. Sure, the doctor on Star Trek Voyager could get in there and repair those tiny blood vessels with sonic instruments, but sadly, medical science just isn’t there yet.

Obesity

According to statistics, Americans are more likely to be overweight than normal weight, and more than a third of us are obese. An entire industry revolves around trying to sell you on the idea of a magic pill that will cure your obesity, but that’s a bunch of baloney (which, by the way, is no good for your diet).

Obesity kills more people than smoking, it exponentially raises your risk for just about every chronic disease, and is the costliest burden on the healthcare system. Sounds like something science would want to cure, right? Well, yeah. You better believe the big drug companies have R&D teams working 24/7 to find the obesity cure. It will be a major, major, Nobel-worthy advance when it happens.

Incidentally, this is how you can tell that weight loss supplements don’t work - if these multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies with research budgets larger than that of some countries haven’t found the answer, do you really think some penny-ante supplement company has it locked? No. No, you shouldn’t.

The biggest cause of obesity is overeating and inactivity. The only way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more, but even that isn’t permanent unless the root causes of each is addressed. There is no pill that will burn your fat - only you can do that. But there are medications that can make you feel less hungry while you diet, or give you more energy to work out. But there is no pill anywhere that actually triggers fat loss without any effort on your part. Nowhere.

Menstrual Cramps

Cramps suck. There’s really nothing more to say. Whether it’s the monthly hell your uterus puts you through or a surprise attack on mile four of the marathon you trained all year for, these simple muscle contractions can make you stop in your tracks and retire to bed. Or at least want to.

There’s no magic treatment that makes cramps go away. The pain is the muscle contracting in response to a stimulus like fatigue, overuse or electrolyte imbalance, and you just have to let it run its course. Massage can sometimes encourage skeletal muscle cramps to lighten up, or it could encourage the muscle to contract harder and make the pain worse.

Prevention is key - staying hydrated and working gradually into exercise are effective measures, and women who experience severe cramps during menstruation may get medication that helps relax the muscles to reduce the likelihood of cramping. But once a cramp begins, you just have to ride that wave of pain all the way to the finish line.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/everyday-complaints-science-cant-cure.html

Importance of Washing Your Hands

There are many people who think that washing hands frequently is a waste of time. However, they are unaware that our hands are host to many bacteria and viruses that can cause infectious diseases. To know more about the significance of hand washing and how it can save us from different ailments, go through this article.Did you know that regular hand washing is the most essential factor for maintaining good health? Every human being comes in contact with germs and bacteria in their daily life. These harmful microorganisms are present all around us like on the door knobs, faucets, light switches, stair railings, etc. People touch these things while doing their routine work, without thinking much about it and with the same hands touch their face, eyes, nose and sometimes eat food, too. While performing these acts, the germs and bacteria get into our body, causing several diseases. Hence, it is important for all of us to know and educate others with the right methods to follow, to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Significance of Washing Hands

Why Is It Important
The most important advantage is that you prevent yourself from getting infected by a number of dangerous ailments. People who are careless about washing their hands are at a higher risk of catching a cold or a flu. Not washing hands has also the ability to cause gastrointestinal illnesses and also diarrhea which can spread to the whole family. It has also been seen that improper means of washing hands or not washing at all can cause pneumonia in old people and in those people who are diagnosed with chronic diseases.

The Correct Way to Do It
Not many people know how to wash their hands properly. Cleaning hands does not mean just running water over your palms. It has to be done very carefully and in detail. Along with warm water, the most essential thing required to wash your hands is soap.

»First, wet your hands with water and then lather your hands with soap and scrub thoroughly, with the soap   reaching both the sides of your hands till the wrist and also between your fingers. Then, wash off the soap with water and pat it dry with a towel or a tissue paper.

»The other method one could use when there is no soap or water is by making use of an alcohol-based sanitizer. Take a pea-sized sanitizer in the palm and spread it on the entire hands till it dries.

» Wiping one's hands with antimicrobial wipes or towelettes is also a good way of keeping the hands clean.

When to Wash Your Hands
To prevent the dangers of not washing your hands, it is essential for you to know when it is extremely important to wash your hands.

»After using the washroom at home or at any public place
»After visiting a patient at the hospital
»Before as well as after eating food
»Before and after one starts cooking food, especially meat, fish and poultry
»After changing a baby's diaper
»After touching pets or cleaning their feces
»Before touching young infants and children
»While inserting or removing contact lenses
»Before and after touching injured areas and changing the dressing of a wounded person
»After collecting and throwing out garbage
»After sneezing, coughing and blowing your nose

Knowing the importance of washing hands will help you in avoiding infectious diseases. People who work in hospitals and other health sectors have to keep a strict check on hygiene and should learn and educate others in the proper way. However, one must remember that even at home we can get infected with diseases due to bacteria and so it is necessary for us to teach the proper method to our family, especially children. Children love to play with mud and sand, which host a lot of germs. By teaching your kids the significance of washing hands properly, you would be taking a very crucial step towards living a healthy life.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/importance-of-hand-washing.html

Solutions for Smelly Shoes

Many people have smelly feet and shoes, which makes them a taboo at social functions. So what can you do to deal with those stinky, smelly shoes? Here are some solutions which will help you in getting rid of the foul stench from your shoes.Stinky shoes or feet act as people repellent at any social occasion. Apart from putting a person in an embarrassing situation, it also reflects poorly on his/her hygiene and grooming quotient. Hence, it becomes all the more essential to ensure that your shoes or feet are clean. If you are planning to throw away a pair of stinky shoes, just wait and try the following easy solutions to get rid of the stench.

Solutions for Getting Rid of Smell in Shoes

There are many solutions for treating this disgusting stench, and they vary depending upon the reason behind the stink. If your shoes stink just because they were wet for a long time, you may just have to dry them, but if it is due to a sweat problem, there is more to do than just drying them.

1. Wash your Shoes: If the stench is due to excessive sweating, it is essential that you wash your shoes well with soap. If you do not, then there may be a bacterial or a fungal buildup which can even cause athlete's foot.
2. Exposure to Sun: A simple solution to this problem is to leave the shoes out in the sun. Direct exposure to sunlight kills all the bacteria which cause the pungent smell.
3. Deodorizers and Disinfectants: There are special deodorizers and disinfectants designed for this problem. So you can disinfect your shoes daily before wearing, or after removing them. You can also spray perfumes and antiperspirant deodorants for fragrance.
4. Alcohol and Activated Charcoal: Use rubbing alcohol to clean your shoes. It disinfects the shoes and stops the foul odor. Activated charcoal can also be left in the shoes overnight to make them odor-free.
5. Lysol and Febreze: Like alcohol, Lysol and Febreze, act as active disinfectants for killing the bacteria, and cleaning the shoes.
6. Baking Soda: Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda can be sprinkled, or spread inside the shoes, and kept overnight to get rid of the stench.
7. Hydrogen Peroxide, Bleach, and Vinegar: You can use hydrogen peroxide, bleach, and vinegar to clean your shoes. Spray any one of these on your shoes, and keep them aside for a day. It will not only remove the odor but also make your shoes cleaner.
8. Ice Box Trick: One of the easiest solutions to get stink-free shoes, is to pack them in an ice box and thaw them out in the sun, then use inserts which absorb the odor.
9. Newspapers: Newspapers can be used in multiple ways for cleaning shoes. Stash loosely crumpled newspaper inside your shoes, and keep them in your closet, or you can also wipe your wet or sweaty shoes with newspaper as it helps to absorb the moisture.
10. Natural Materials: It is best to wear shoes made from natural materials like, canvas, leather, etc. instead of artificial materials. Sports style cotton socks which are thicker than the usual ones are recommended, to keep your shoes from stinking. You can also put grommets on shoes for air ventilation.
11. Silver Lining Insoles: Put silver lining insoles in your shoes to keep them from getting sweaty and stinky.
12. Cedar Insoles: You may use insoles made from cedar wood as it does not allow bacteria to grow and emanate a foul smell.
13. Cleanse your Feet: Do not forget to wash your feet regularly if you have the problem of stinky feet as it helps in eliminating bacteria. You can also clean them with the help of soaps, disinfectants, or even drops of lemon in hot water. In addition to this, do not forget to clean your nails everyday after bath.
14. Dead Skin: Use a scrubber, pumice stone, brush, or loofah, to exfoliate the dead skin cells on your feet. This will help in keeping your feet soft and bacteria-free.
15. Powders: If the stench is due to excessive sweating, you can sprinkle some sweat-absorbing foot powder, talcum powder, or baby powder on your feet before you venture outdoors. This also helps in giving fragrance to your shoes.
16. Foot Care Products: Use foot care products like powders, deodorants, creams, salts for foot baths, soaps, and foot-healing balms, for keeping your feet clean and healthy.
17. Home Remedies: You can also utilize other home remedies like filling your socks with coffee beans, and keeping them overnight in the shoes. Tea tree oil, lemon oil, or clove oil, can also be used for removing the stench from shoes. Placing petals of lavender in your shoes will give a pleasant smell. Also, try soaking your feet in warm black tea to remove the stench from your feet.

Dos and Don'ts

• Change the soles inside your shoes on a regular basis.
• Change your socks regularly.
• Visit a doctor to get antibacterial treatment, if necessary.
• Avoid wearing shoes at home. Let your feet be free for sometime.
• Remember to remove chemicals like baking soda, etc. before you wear your shoes.
• Don't wear shoes that are too tight for your feet. Wear the ones which will let your feet 'breathe'.
• Avoid wearing the same shoes everyday.

Remember, people do not appreciate a person who has smelly shoes. Hence, prevent your shoes from stinking by using any of the above-mentioned ways. Maintain hygiene by washing your feet regularly with soap and water. This will also help prevent infections.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/smelly-shoes-remedy.html

Proper Hand Washing Techniques

The best way to prevent biological contamination is by adopting proper hand washing techniques. Although, the hands cannot be kept germ-free all the time, frequent washing will prevent transmission of various viruses and bacteria.

'Hand washing is considered the single most important means of preventing the spread of infection' - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Most of the diseases are caused by germs carried on the hands. 99% of the spread of germs traveling through droplets can be prevented by proper hand washing. People using public restrooms are susceptible to being infected by germs left behind by people who fail to practice good hand hygiene. Moreover, germs can also be picked up while handling library material, common keyboards, etc. Every individual needs to wash his or her hands properly, to reduce disease transmission. Hand washing techniques involve washing of the hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Washing With Soap and Water

☞ Turn on the tap and allow running water to wet the hands and wrists. While using a public restroom, one    should consider that the faucets are contaminated, thus one should turn on the tap by using a paper towel.

☞ Use a soap bar or liquid soap and apply soap to the hands. Soaps are excellent cleansing agents and work well to remove the dirt. The soap should be worked into a lather.

☞ For at least 15-20 seconds rub the hands vigorously together. It is this friction, along with soap and water, that helps wash off the pathogens.

☞ Scrub the hands thoroughly, including the back of the hands, between the fingers, around the cuticles and under the fingernails and wrists.

☞ Under running water, rinse the hands well. The running water carries away the debris and dirt from the hands. While rinsing point the fingers downwards, thereby allowing the water to drip downwards instead of moving towards the elbows and contaminating it.

☞ With a clean towel or disposable paper towel, dry the hands. If using a public restroom, a paper towel should be used to turn the faucet off.

☞ Soap can become a breeding ground for microorganisms, thus one must thoroughly clean soap dispensers before refilling them with fresh liquid soap.

Washing With Alcohol-Based Hand Sanitizer

When soap and water are not available, alcohol-based hand sanitizers prove to be an excellent alternative. In fact, these hand sanitizers are more effective in killing viruses and bacteria as compared to soap and water, which only wash them off. Hand sanitizers can help prevent skin dryness, but some of them may lack alcohol content and are therefore not recommended. Only the alcohol-based ones should be used. Washing the hands with a sanitizer simply requires the application of about half a teaspoon of hand sanitizer on the hand and rubbing the hands together till the hands are dry. The hand sanitizer should cover all the surfaces of the hands. For visibly dirty and soiled hands, soap and water is needed.

Dos and Don'ts of Hand Washing

✗ Never touch the sink, while washing your hands, because the sink is contaminated with microorganisms.
✗ Never touch the restroom knob or handle after washing your hands. You will contaminate them again.Use a paper towel to open the door.
✓ Always remove rings and bracelets before washing your hands.
✓ Always use disposable paper towels in public restrooms. Towels house microorganisms and will only pass germs. Even at home, avoid drying your hands on the kitchen towel.
✗ Never let soapy water run down your wrists during hand washing, because it takes germs along with it and smears them on your forearms. Point your hands downwards while washing them.

When Must I Wash My Hands?

• After using the restroom
• After coming from school, playground, workplace, etc.
• Before eating
• After handling garbage
• After touching animals and their waste
• After coughing, sneezing or blowing the nose
• Before, during and after preparing food
• Before and after treating wounds and cuts
• Before and after meeting an injured or sick person
• Before touching a baby
• After changing a diaper
• Before removing or inserting contact lenses
• After handling money
• After driving
• Whenever hands are visibly dirty

The combination of rubbing the hands thoroughly with regular soap and water and rinsing them prevents the transmission of bacteria and viruses. Using pre-moistened towelettes for cleaning the hands cannot be termed as proper hand washing. They cannot be used as substitutes for soap and water. Thus, be wise and wash your hands thoroughly to maintain proper hygiene.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/proper-hand-washing-techniques.html

Benefits of Care Farming

Care farming is gaining notoriety as a viable method of eco-therapy for treating people with various physical and mental conditions. Not only does it have healing qualities, but it also brings you closer to nature. This Buzzle article will give you information about the benefits of care farming.

Did You Know?

Benjamin Rush (1746-1813) was one of the first medical scientists who referred to the positive effects of horticultural practice on the well-being of the mentally diseased.

In recent years, the concept of care farming has become extremely popular. It employs farming practices for therapeutic uses. It allows people who need to recover from physical and mental problems to stay and work on a farm. Care farming is highly beneficial for individuals who need to recuperate, as a sense of mutual healing takes place when they are working with people, animals, plants, and the earth.

Farmers may utilize the entire or part of their farms for these activities. Here they provide structured programs for farming and allied activities, along with supervised care. They not only provide social care services, but also undertake educational programs. A care farmer, or a farm therapist, also takes their daily group sessions.

Under this program, vulnerable people are provided an opportunity to participate in the day-to-day working of the farm. They can undertake activities like crop and vegetable plantation, watering crops, woodland management, feeding the animals, etc. This largely helps individuals work on their physical and mental health.

Need for a Care Farm

The care farming concept has stemmed from the need for self-sufficiency among social outcasts. It also caters to the problem of lack of proper professional care facilities in rural areas. Also, due to the rise of agricultural malfunctionality, concepts like care farming are helping farmers by providing them additional income to support their families.

Types of Care Farms

• Industrial Agriculture Care Farms

Technoscientific, political, and economic methods are employed in industrial farming. It includes industrialized production of livestock, poultry, fish, and crops. Very few care farmers work in this domain.

• Organic Care Farm

Organic farming needs manual labor and accords direct contact with plants, crops, and farm animals which is therapeutic in nature. Hence, there are a lot of organic farmers which offer care-giving services on their farms.

• Animal Sanctuaries

These care farms provide a home for sick, abandoned, and abused animals.

Benefits for People

◈ Through farming activities, farmers help to provide physical and mental well-being of the people.

◈ People who suffer from depression, learning disabilities, obesity, work induced stress, etc., can find solace      and healing at such farms.

◈ It is also an advisable therapeutic experience for psychiatric patients, people recovering from drug abuse,        disaffected youth, and elderly people.

◈ It also helps individuals overcome nature deficit disorder.

◈ Implementing their time in fulfilling and productive work makes them happy.

◈ They get time to think positively about their emotional and physical problems.

◈ As this is a new and engaging way of life for them, people tend to de-stress at care farms.

◈ The supportive atmosphere on the farm helps expedite their recovery.

◈ They get much-needed time to think, and this helps them express themselves in a better way.

◈ It isolates people from their problems.

◈ By doing work on the farm, they also get a regular dose of physical exercise.

Benefits for Farmers

◈ Having guests on the farm help farmers mitigate the issues related to rural isolation.

◈ Farmers get a deep sense of satisfaction by helping others.

◈ A high amount of respect and value is attributed to the knowledge and skills of farmers.

◈ It helps farmers get new sources of income.

◈ It also helps them to have a reinforced relation with society and their end customers directly.

◈ The experience of care-giving is a gratifying one, not only physically, but also emotionally.

    Benefits for Farming Businesses

◈ It helps in increasing the number of services offered by the farm.

◈ Care farming helps the farming community to achieve social, economical, and environmental sustainability.

◈ It helps in establishing and developing the viability of farms.

◈ It helps in supporting and enhancing the farming business.

◈ Farming activities help cater to the social and medical needs of various individuals.

◈ It acts as a catalyst to encourage development of farming communities.

◈ It has helped in drawing crowds to farms, which have lost their importance due to urbanization.

Benefits for Farming Businesses

◈ It helps in increasing the number of services offered by the farm.

◈ Care farming helps the farming community to achieve social, economical, and environmental sustainability.

◈ It helps in establishing and developing the viability of farms.

◈ It helps in supporting and enhancing the farming business.

◈ Farming activities help cater to the social and medical needs of various individuals.

◈ It acts as a catalyst to encourage development of farming communities.

◈ It has helped in drawing crowds to farms, which have lost their importance due to urbanization.

Care farming is very popular in the United Kingdom. Many people learn to shoulder their responsibilities in a better way after undergoing one of these programs. They also feel the need to give back to nature and contribute to their community. Working on the farm helps individuals speed up their recovery and spend their time productively. This farm-based therapeutic intervention helps them harvest the benefits of rural farm life and also provides them an emotionally cathartic experience.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/benefits-of-care-farming.html

Why Crying is Good for Your Health

Why Crying is Good for Your Health
The act of crying has got so much bad press, that it may be difficult to perceive the positive aspects of crying. The following Buzzle article throws some light on the benefits of crying.
Why crying is good for health

Crying Clubs
Japan is one of the few countries to promote crying clubs, wherein movies and television serials that make the audience cry are shown. Quite a few people visit these clubs in the evening to relieve work-related stress.

Who says crying is detrimental to health? So much has been said about the positive impact of laughing, that people tend to associate social stigma with crying. The sad face while crying may be an eyesore, but one cannot make any judgment simply on the basis of what appears outwardly.

Crying too can be good for health, as found out in a few studies. Although the benefits of crying do not outnumber those linked with laughing, they certainly cannot be ignored. So, if you feel like crying after an unhappy event, let those tears of sorrow flow unrestricted. Stopping these tears can actually be self-harming. The act of crying allows suppressed emotions and tensions to escape. This may actually help to relieve stress, bust depression, and uplift mood.

Health Benefits of Crying

Stress Buster

Crying can be helpful to release emotional stress that is considered to a major trigger in the development of heart problems, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. In a 15-year study on human tears, conducted at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Dr William Frey, it was observed that crying helps in flushing chemicals/hormones that form under stress. Some of the major stress hormones are eliminated out of the body via tears. Researchers, however, pointed out that tears released while cutting onions are not effective to reduce stress. The study found out that tears resulting from grief, sadness, or after feeling hurt are found to be high in protein-based hormones and adrenocorticotropic hormones. All these hormones are usually secreted as a response to stress. This is the reason people inflicted with sorrow and emotional pain tend to feel better after crying. Also, while crying, we tend to take deep breaths, which also contributes in alleviating stress.

Improves Mood

Apart from relieving stress, crying may also help to improve mood. A study reported in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 2008 observed the effects as well as the reasons behind crying. Happy tears after a commendable achievement were providing the maximum amount of improvement in mood. Elevation in mood was also observed when there was someone to console while crying. Crying over personal loss, be it a valuable thing or someone dear, may allow you to cope up with the situation and you may feel better afterwards.

Another theory suggested by scientists links low magnesium levels associated with crying, to elevated mood. It is observed that too much manganese in the body can cause an adverse impact on mood, that manifests in the form of nervousness and emotional disturbances. However, as tears contain substantial amounts of manganese, the act of crying can lead to a drop in magnesium levels, which may have a positive impact on mood.

Releases Feeling

It is often said that negative feelings, if allowed to accumulate, cause mental disorders such as depression. Crying helps to vent out these deep-seated emotions, making you feel better. Not letting go off these buried emotions can also trigger a wide range of chronic illnesses including diabetes and arthritis. So, releasing this emotional buildup via crying is very important for overall well-being.

Releases Endorphins

Apart from exercise and laughter, even the act of crying releases endorphins - chemicals that give an euphoric high. Endorphins also display analgesic properties, meaning they prevent pain signals from reaching the brain. This indicates that endorphins associated with crying may also help to alleviate physical pain. So, if your feel like crying after a traumatic experience, don't hesitate.

Acts as an Eye Wash

Studies on human tears have revealed that they contain lysozyme, an enzyme that is well-known for its antibacterial properties. The enzyme destroys the bacterial cell wall, essential for their survival. This antimicrobial property of human tears helps stop the bacteria from causing eye infections. Also, reflex tears that are released after exposure to smoke, dust, and onions actually help protect the eyes from harm, and prevent injuries from these irritants. These tears, that we don't like to see, actually keep the eyes safe from the environment.

Removes Toxins

Emotional tears that arise from sadness are full of toxic chemicals, as found out in one study. The chemical buildup that accumulates when facing high stress levels is released through tears.

Lowers Blood Pressure

It is observed that blood pressure reduces following a crying session. The release of trapped emotions after crying makes us feel better, which contributes in lowering blood pressure and heart rate. Besides lowering blood pressure, crying bouts also help in reducing pulse rate.

Although crying does have benefits, you don't have to reduce yourself to tears every now and then. Only when you find that you are no longer able to carry the burden of emotional pain, especially from traumatic episodes, go ahead and have a good cry.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is solely for educating the reader. It is not intended to be a substitute for the advice of a medical expert.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-crying-is-good-for-your-health.html

How Does Traffic Affect Our Health

Traffic affects our mental as well as physical health in many ways. Some of the most common effects of traffic on our health are frustration, stress, headache, and cough. Apart from these, there are other ill effects of traffic, which are elaborated in this Buzzle article.

How traffic affects our health

On-road vehicles are responsible for 44% of all carbon dioxide emissions in the US, one-third of all nitrogen oxide emissions and one-quarter of all volatile organic compound emissions.
- Center for Transportation Excellence

Everyone encounters traffic, either vehicular or denizen traffic. The feeling of being stuck in a place full of vehicles or people gets overwhelming for many individuals, and is the main cause of stress-related disorders cropping up in today's time.

At the 49th Annual Conference on Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, the American Heart Association stated, "People who have had a heart attack are likely to report having been in traffic shortly before their symptoms began." This statement was from a German study, that determined that exposure to traffic was a key contributor to heart attacks.

When talking about traffic woes, we also need to take into consideration the pollution that we are exposed to. Breathing in toxic emissions from bikes, cars, trucks, and buses harm our lungs making us targets to various respiratory-related diseases. Given below is an in-depth exposition on how traffic affects our health and what we can do to retard some of these effects to live a longer and healthier life.

Health Effects of Traffic

Aches and Pains
Imagine yourself being tied down in one place, with your arms holding a wheel in front of you, but no scope for movement, with horns blaring in the background and poisonous smoke being sent your way, well, that is your situation when you are driving in traffic.

• Due to your confinement, you tend to neglect your posture, and end up slouching in the car seat. While driving in a slouched position, pressure comes on your back and neck. The neck muscles are interrelated to your back and shoulders. Back pain is often due to poor posture which can have a negative effect on your health.
• In the long run, this is not good as it makes a difference on your appearance, and also makes you prone to ailments like spondylitis, frozen shoulder, etc.
• Your bad posture also puts stress on the joints of your elbows and knees, causing pain and fatigue to these areas of your body.
• You might be wondering how driving in traffic puts stress on your joints? When you are driving in traffic, you are constantly shifting between the accelerator and brake (in automatic transmission cars), and clutch, brake, and accelerator (in manual transmission cars). This constant shifting puts pressure and stress on your knees, causing knee-related problems and aches.
• The same goes for the elbows, if the car seat is not at a comfortable distance from the steering wheel, your elbows are constantly straight, or locked. This position is very bad for the ball-and-socket joints of the elbow.

What can you do: You can counteract these ill effects and posture problems, by sitting upright and having a support for your lower back and neck. Adjust the position of your seat in such a way that you can drive at ease without any discomfort. The backrest of the seat should be straight up, and not pulled down too much. These methods take off a lot of stress and help you drive the right way.

Risk of Heart Disease
Prolonged exposure to traffic pollution, is dangerous to your heart, and is associated with an increased risk of heart diseases.

• According to a study presented at the EuroPRevent 2013 congress in Rome, people who are exposed to fine particle matter (PM) air pollution derived from traffic pollution, for a prolonged period of time, are at an increased risk of developing atherosclerosis.
• Dr Hagen Kälsch, from West-German Heart Center in Essen, Germany explained that this study was conducted to establish whether the risk of heart diseases is associated with traffic noise or pollution, or both. He confirmed that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter air pollution and traffic noise are both linked with the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
• The heart is a delicate organ and needs to be treated with care. Pollution, fluctuating stress levels, loud noises, inhalation of harmful gases, etc. are reasons why the condition of the heart may weaken and deteriorate with time. These factors are significantly associated with the risk of heart attack.
• Dealing with inconsistent and rash drivers increases your stress levels, as you constantly get irate with the way they ride or drive, or jittery when they cut and zoom past you when you are driving peacefully. This can take a toll on your cardiovascular health.

What can you do: Regular exercise in fresh air, relaxing by getting massages, eating the right food, etc. can help your heart recover from the stress that it has gone through due to the chaotic traffic conditions. Deep breathing and meditation also help in reducing stress levels.

Respiratory Problems
Exposure to heavy traffic implies exposure to poisonous gases that are emitted by vehicles. It is believed that the transportation sector in the US, is responsible for a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions.

• Our lungs are like sponges, soaking in everything that is inhaled by our respiratory system. The smoke coming out of the tailpipes of cars, bikes, and buses have hydrocarbons, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, benzene, acetaldehyde, butadiene, and carbon dioxide, which present a serious threat to human health.
• Prolonged exposure to vehicular traffic emissions can cause various respiratory diseases like, bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, etc.
• Another lung-related ailment, that can be blamed on long-term exposure to the hazardous pollutants emitted from vehicles in traffic, is cancer. Emissions from diesel vehicles are said to increase the risk of lung cancer.

What can you do: There are ways to avoid breathing in polluted air. If you can, avoid driving in parts of your town with heavy traffic congestion. However, if you find yourself driving through such areas, roll up your car windows to minimize exposure to harmful toxins. If you plan to go out for a stroll or run, do it in a place where you get loads of fresh air. Eat food that are rich in antioxidants, and exercise regularly so that your immune system is strong enough to fight off potential threats to your health.

Other Problems
Traveling from one place to another is inevitable. Given below are some other potential health risks associated with long-term exposure to traffic pollution.

• The impact of traffic jams on the brain may be a causative factor in DNA and gene alteration.
• Being exposed to harmful pollutants, leads to vitiated brain capacity and risk of brain damage.
• Brain lesions, low IQ, lack of retention and concentration, epilepsy, migraines, blurry vision, etc. are the negative effects of pollutants on our central nervous system.
• Long-term exposure to neurotoxins which are present in the smoke emitted from vehicles, causes degeneration, and in some extreme cases, irreparable damage to the central nervous system.
• Fatigue, anxiety, and irritability, are also faced by thousands of commuters.
• Exposure to high volume traffic, brings about mental and physical exhaustion.
• Dealing with strangers on an everyday basis, especially in traffic, makes you lose your patience and cool. You actually feel like getting out of your car and giving everyone around you a piece of your mind.
• You get irritated easily, you are snappy, and sometimes even get anxiety attacks.
• Many a time you feel agitated and anxious while traveling. This may be because you worry that the traffic will make you late, which increases your stress levels.

What can you do: Cover your mouth and nose with a scarf so that you do not breathe in the harmful smoke directly. Keep your cool while driving, by listening to music that you enjoy. Get a car freshener that soothes your mood (pleasant fragrances have the power to change moods drastically, from bad to good!). Turn your car into a comfort zone and remind yourself that getting agitated over other people is never going to help you, it will just make things worse.

Travel and traffic are two things that are absolutely unavoidable, that is why we should try to be as comfortable as possible, to be stress-free and illness-free!

Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and does not in any way attempt to replace the advice offered by a medical professional.
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/how-does-traffic-affect-our-health.html