New York's commuters are in for a 'summer of hell' - and its effects could be longer-term than people think

As parts of Penn Station, the US's busiest train hub, have shut down for extensive track repairs, commuters are already complaining about crowded, standing-room-only trains, the New York Post reports.

And experts warn that it's just the beginning - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has already called a state of emergency in New York City's subways, the New York Times reports.

The breakdown of the New York metro area's public transit system is sure to cause a city-wide headache, leaving roughly 600,000 commuters scrambling.

But it also may have a long-term affect on the commuters.

Unsurprisingly, suffering through a public transit system that jams travelers into packed cars, features surprise stampedes and mysterious, foul-smelling leaks, and involves trains that show up incredibly late, when they're not derailing and catching fire, may slowly worsen your health. In some severe cases, it might even increase your risk of premature death.

DNAInfo's Nicole Levy previously reported that "the toll our daily commute takes on us has long-term implications on our mental and physical health."

She looked at research conducted by people like Richard Wener, a professor of environmental psychology at New York University and a longtime commuter, to find out how our daily commutes are affecting our health.

Here are three of the most insidious ways your commute can hurt you in the long run: