Clogged roads bad for health

Depression, heart disease and high blood pressure - gridlocked commuters are at serious risk of suffering from all three illnesses by simply getting behind the wheel.

While commuting to and from work costs Auckland's economy $1 billion in fuel and lost income, medical experts say it is now becoming a major health hazard.

Stressed Auckland drivers who are unable to vent their frustration are literally becoming sick and tired from congested traffic.

In stressful situations such as bumper-to-bumper traffic, adrenaline and other stress-related hormones are pumped through the body to prepare for a "flight or fight" situation, said Dr Nick Argyle, who is a clinical leader of mental health at Auckland Hospital.

In such situations, if there was no release of adrenaline, it would pool in the arteries, leading to heart disease and depression over time.

Other negative side effects include sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure, headaches and stiff neck and shoulder muscles.

This is backed by an overseas study that shows those who cannot deal with sitting in gridlocked traffic experience more stress than fighter pilots or police.

Dr Argyle said Auckland motorists could no longer escape traffic jams so "road rage" attacks were more common as stress levels reached boiling point.

"Stress puts the body into overdrive. It fires you up but if you're stuck in traffic, you can't burn it off," Dr Argyle said.

He suggested commuters exercise regularly to burn unused adrenaline but accepted that stressed drivers had little time to unwind with family and friends, let alone go for a run or to the gym. Many drivers remembered "the good old days" but times had changed, said Dr Argyle, and many could not move on.

"If you're used to driving from A to B in 10 minutes and it takes 55 minutes, then it's hugely annoying."

Dr Nick Wilson from the Wellington School of Medicine agreed that Auckland motorists were facing major health hazards from gridlock.

He said motorists needed to be mindful of problems such as depression and high blood pressure, suggesting that exercise was often a good way to eliminate potential problems.

But Dr Wilson said stress from traffic was not the only trigger for road rage.

"You might think 'that bastard cut me off' and your blood pressure will rise, but you can't attribute that directly to congestion. You could just be having a bad day."

A recent UK study compared the heart rate and blood pressure of 125 commuters over five years with those of pilots and police officers in training exercises.

The study found that the stress levels of commuters were higher in extreme circumstances, such as a "road rage" argument.

With the Rugby World Cup 2011 fast approaching, local politicians are desperate to sort the city's traffic problem.

Joel Cayford, who chairs the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, said $700 million was needed to get public transport up and running. If stress and road rage did not kill motorists, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide from thousands of car exhausts would, he said.