A new research has shown that a man's stress levels rise an amazing seven times higher than a woman's while stuck in heavy traffic.
A new research has shown that a man's stress levels rise an amazing seven times higher than a woman's while stuck in heavy traffic. Psychologists commissioned by a satnav firm carried out tests on volunteers for a rise in stress chemicals in their saliva while caught up in a traffic jam, reports the Daily Express.
The levels for women in the study increased by 8.7 percent - but for men they shot up by a worrying 60 percent.
That could put pressure on the heart and can cause dizziness and breathing problems. Yet, remarkably, many had no idea they were suffering from the effects of stress. Two thirds of the women and half of the men said they did not feel any stress after 20 minutes in heavy traffic - even though the readings proved they did have a stress response.
Almost half of all adults commute to work by car on a daily basis and those who are exposed to constant traffic jams could fall ill with stress-related problems.
It may also make their driving erratic or dangerous, according to psychologist David Moxon, who conducted the study for TomTom to launch its Break Free campaign.
Men may suffer more stress because their normal reaction to a difficult situation is known as "fight or flight" - either to confront it or walk away.
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Women, on the other hand, cope better using methods as simple as singing to the radio to relieve the pressure.
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