Road Trip Risks: 4 Tips for a Heart-Healthy Journey
Have you ever felt extremely tired, dizzy, or short of breath during a long car ride? If you have a history of heart disease, these symptoms may be even more pronounced and could seriously affect your physical health. The physical burden of long car rides should not be overlooked, especially for heart disease patients. According to statistics, long car rides can worsen the condition of heart disease patients.
So, this blog will share with you 4 ways to reduce the harm of a long road trip on your heart health. These tips not only benefit heart disease patients but also help everyone to reduce the physical burden on their body, hence a lower chance of developing heart disease.
Flexible work hours
Long car rides can increase the physical burden on our bodies and heart. Fortunately, many companies now offer flexible work hours, allowing you to arrange your work location according to your needs and even work from home. This can reduce the need for commuting and shorten travel time, minimising the impact of long car rides on heart health.
Diverse modes of transportation
Relying on cars when commuting not only contributes to traffic congestion but also poses risks to heart health. We should try different modes of transportation, for example, healthy choices like walking and cycling. If you have to take public transportation such as buses or MTR, standing instead of sitting can reduce the adverse effects of prolonged sitting on heart health.
Exercising regularly
People who spend long hours commuting often do not want to spend even more time exercising. However, lack of exercise can increase the risk of heart disease. We should make good use of exercise spaces and facilities near our workplace or home, such as sports grounds, parks and gyms, and take a 30-minute walk or do some low-intensity training after lunch or dinner. This can aid in digestion and improve blood circulation, hence improving heart health.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is crucial for maintaining heart health. We should eat a healthy diet with balanced nutrients and little salt, fat and sugar. Plus, we should develop a good sleep schedule, relieve stress, and try to quit unhealthy habits such as smoking and binge drinking. By leading a healthy lifestyle, we can reduce the risk of heart disease.
Long car rides can be a physical burden for heart disease patients. If you suddenly feel unwell during a long car ride, you should immediately get off the car and rest. Do not continue to work or travel and seek help from nearby people. If necessary, see a doctor and undergo a full-body check-up.