Changes such as policing airline schedules, controlling fees, curbing overbooking and even imposing minimum service standards could help tidy up the current bus-in-the-sky mentality.

By curbing imports and boosting exports, a cheaper dollar helps shrink America's current-account deficit and wean the economy off its reliance on consumer spending.

According to Guimont, the current findings support the notion that curbing job strain could make a difference in some workers' blood pressure.