A mental health upside of commuting?

Plus: An update on the heart health benefits of chocolate [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( February 12, 2023 by Andrea Muraskin This week: As much of a toll COVID-19 has taken on the economy and our health, at least we haven’t had to pay for vaccinations, tests and treatments. [But that’s changing soon](. Plus, researchers explore the [unsung mental health benefits of a daily commute]( and how even work-from-homers can tap in. And, an [ambiguous endorsement for the heart health benefits]( of cocoa. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Time is running out for free COVID vaccines, tests and treatments]( [Vials of the reformulated Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 booster move through production at a plant in Kalamazoo, Mich.]( Pfizer Inc. In my little civilian lifetime, I’d never seen the federal government step up the way it did during the first COVID vaccine roll-out. When I pulled up to my local mall to get my first shot, a swift-moving line extended through the parking lot. A cadre of staff and nurses ran an efficient operation in a hollowed-out Sears, while National Guard troops monitored the flow of people and the post-injection waiting area. Like so many Americans, I’ve received boosters, at-home test kits and even Paxlovid with no insurance card presented and no money exchanged. But that’s changing soon. The national public health emergency, first declared in early 2020 in response to the pandemic, is set to expire May 11– and publicly funded vaccines, tests and treatments will end along with it. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, who have been selling bivalent boosters to the government for about $30 a dose, each say they plan to raise prices to around $120 per dose once they enter the commercial market. Your out-of-pocket costs for shots, tests and treatments will depend on your insurance, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. [Find out how much you could be on the hook for](. [Plus: Are there places you should still wear a mask, forever?]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Study: Commuting has an upside and remote workers may be missing out]( [Commuting offers some workers a period of respite between work and home, researchers found.]( Massimo Colombo/Getty Images If you’ve ever listened to your local NPR affiliate station during a fund drive, you’ve probably heard the phrase “driveway moment.” A driveway moment is when you’ve arrived at home, but you linger in the driver’s seat for a few sweet minutes to hear the rest of the story or interview coming out of your radio. A special time to round out the end of your commute before you head inside. Just you and Ari Shapiro. Of course, opportunities for such moments became a lot more scarce when pandemic lockdowns eliminated commutes for many Americans (no driveway moment without the drive) And plenty of us continue to work remotely. Some have even [reported missing their commutes](. Management researchers Matthew Piszczek and Kristie McAlpine looked into how workers feel about commuting, and how the trek to and from work affects our sense of wellbeing. They argue that commutes are a source of "liminal space”-- a time free of both home and work roles that provides an opportunity to recover from work and mentally switch gears. However, if driving or taking transit is stressful or you can’t stop thinking about work, you miss out on the value of that liminal space. They also say if your workplace is your home, you’re more likely to experience a psychological blurring of the lines between work and non-work, which can lead to burnout. [Here’s how to carve out some healthy liminal space in your day, whether you commute or not](. [Also: Give yourself a healthy dose of downtime with these NPR science podcasts]( [Are the contents of that heart-shaped box actually good for your heart? Sorta.]( [Cocoa contains compounds called flavanols, which have been shown to improve blood flow and lower blood pressure.]( Kevin Delcroix /Getty Images There’s plenty of mystique around the health effects of chocolate. Over the centuries, cocoa has been touted as an aphrodisiac and a health elixir. In recent years, studies have shown compounds in cocoa called flavonols can help improve blood flow and lower blood pressure. In a recent study, 20,000 participants over the age of 60 consumed high levels of cocoa flavonols in capsule form, every day for several years; or were given a placebo. The study showed a 27% reduction in the rate of death from cardiovascular disease. Still, the FDA reviewed a petition to market chocolate’s heart health benefits and only agreed to a very conditional – not to mention confusing – claim for products with a certain high percentage of the heart-healthy flavonols. Sadly that wouldn’t apply to most candies. [learn more about what kind of chocolate is -- or isn't -- good for your heart](. So instead of digging into the chocolate box, [consider taking a brisk walk with your valentine to ward off heart disease](. [Plus: Dark chocolate is high in cadmium and lead. How much is safe to eat?]( Before you go: [Charles Silverstein (left) and his partner of 20 years, William Bory, smile at the camera in the 1970s. Silverstein dedicated his work to helping LGBTQ people live without shame.]( Rutgers Oral History Archives - My husband is living under COVID lockdown. I’m [ready to move on]( - 'The Last Of Us' made us wonder: [Could a fungus really cause a pandemic?]( - This doctor wants to prescribe a [cure for homelessness]( - Charles Silverstein, a psychologist who [helped destigmatize homosexuality, dies at 87]( - Gas stove makers created a less polluting burner four years ago. [Why can’t you buy a cleaner gas stove?]( We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots and follow us on Twitter at [@NPRHealth](. All best, Andrea Muraskin and your Shots editors --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! 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