Sickening, literally.

Office solutions firm Regus recently released a study indicating that many commuters, especially in third world countries like the Philippines, suffer from traffic-induced stress responsible for hypertension, muscuskeletal diseases and worse, work frustration that usually lasts the whole day.

There have been a number of studies confirming these findings and so workers who struggle through rough bus or jeepney rides daily should be made aware of this. What should be a ten-minute drive normally becomes an hour long agony for most motorists sho snake through Metro Manila’s hellish traffic.

Simlar studies revelaed that regular commuters experience frustration at work and sufer usually unexplained bad moods throughout the day. Apart from this, a gruelling travel induces bad temper and the wife usually has to bear the brunt.

Regus found out that as much as a fifth of company employees worldwide lose productive hours for being stuck in traffic. The problem is more alarming in the Philippines, where about 60 percent of the population reside in urban areas. Getting through daily traffic jams is in itself a tough challenge.

About 90 minutes are spent daily in going to and coming from the workplace. This is greatly reduced if one would take the LRT or MRT. Cars along EDSA travel at an average of 15 kph especially during rush hour.

Regus vice president for Southeast Asia and the Australia-New Zealand regions William Willems said combined productive hours lost due to traffic and the health risks it posed are unquantifiable.

So, when driving or commuting, don’t forget to bring your medicines.