How Rising Gas Prices Are Affecting Our Health

Across the United States, gas prices have risen to an average of $3.98 for a regular grade. With tensions continuing to rise in Iran and the cost of oil rising each day, these prices could continue to increase into the summer as more Americans travel via road.

From a public health perspective, these gas prices are not just affecting our wallets, creating socioeconomic burdens when accessing transportation, but have also had profound effects on our anxiety and stress.

Where you live matters

Socioeconomic status is defined by your income, social standing and education level. The socioeconomic disparities that have been created because of these rising gas prices have become more evident because they have created a divide.

Those of a higher income can continue to afford rising gas prices. However, those of lower income will continue to struggle as the economy worsens.

With job loss and an unemployment rate of 4.8% and climbing, living is becoming more unaffordable. As a result, many people are leaving cities and moving to lower-cost-of-living areas.

However, these lower-cost-of-living areas differ economically due to the makeup of the population. Depending on the kind of work, fewer white-collar jobs that allow work from home are available. Instead, jobs that require driving to get to work are more common, which have a greater financial impact.

One solution to help reduce a gas bill is to use public transportation. However, in the United States, public transportation systems are not widely available, creating disparities in access.

Unless you are in major cities like New York or Washington, DC, most cities offer only buses or limited train service. While this can allow you to get around the city itself, you would not be able to travel around, making cars the preferred mode of transportation.

Therefore, the increase in gas prices hurts those who do not live in a city with public transportation the most. Due to increased distance between businesses, gallons of gas no longer go as far. Going 20 miles each way to get to the grocery store is suddenly $8-10 per trip.

But living in a city does not guarantee a lower cost at the gas pump. With return-to-office mandates, the average commute of Americans is 15-20 miles. Those living in the suburbs are mostly impacted by this change. With modern cars getting roughly 20 miles to a gallon, that can be up to $20-30 per week just on commuting to work.

As electric cars are proposed as an alternative solution, there are also disparities in access. Major cities have the infrastructure to charge these cars, and only those with the means to afford an electric vehicle can benefit. Those living in a rural area with no access to EV charging stations cannot use this solution and must continue to pay the high gas prices.

Physical and mental health are impacted

As far as a health perspective goes, these rising gas prices have been a source of stress and anxiety for many Americans. Long-term stress and anxiety can put you at higher risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. High levels of cortisol can also lead to weight gain, digestive issues, or IBS.

When your body is in a constant state of fight or flight due to uncertainty about how to make ends meet, the issues become less about the effect on your wallet and more about how your long-term health can be impacted.

Mental health has also been impacted. A "scarcity mindset" surrounding the availability of transportation or affordable gas prices can lead to higher anxiety and depression, which can manifest into physical symptoms.

But it does not stop there. If you did need healthcare treatment after developing these symptoms, your socioeconomic status and access to healthcare matter.

Having access to health insurance, a hospital or doctor, and the means to afford medical treatment creates an added layer of disparity.

Now, if you are sick, stressed, and have no means to get treatment, it could lead to worse outcomes, such as losing time at work.

Socioeconomic status determines health, and without the means to access healthcare, this economic shift can affect more than just your wallet.

The problem goes beyond economics

Like any public health disparity, socioeconomic status matters. Unfortunately, much has not been done to create equity when it comes to the cost of everyday services.

There are no accommodations for gas prices based on income. While individuals could typically qualify for food stamps, many states have been more selective in their process due to the ending of the American Rescue Plan as of December 2025.

Additionally, the rising unemployment rate is making it harder to find work and afford the rising costs. Without income, debt increases, and so does stress and anxiety.

Solutions to this silent public health crisis do not exist, and likely will not because the larger issue at hand is the state of the economy. But at an individual level, we can work to manage our stress, eat healthy, and get exercise and sleep.

All these lifestyle preventive measures can hopefully prevent a large medical bill when stress and anxiety rise and manifest in physical complications.

The real public health crisis is not just one of rising prices. It goes deeper than that, proving that economic shifts can have just as much impact on our health and well-being as a deadly disease.