Stress on the job increases heart disease risk by nearly a quarter

Saturday, September 22, 2012 by: John Phillip
Tags: job stress, heart disease, risk

(NaturalNews) It's easy to understand that a diet filled with trans-fat laden fried foods, sugary sweets and hormone and antibiotic laden meats is a recipe for chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. These foods subject the body to a plethora of synthesized chemical compounds, increased blood glucose levels and promote high blood pressure. Less understood is the concept that our environment and lifestyle contribute equally to risk for developing many potentially deadly illnesses, especially the number one killer in the U.S., heart disease.

Stress reduction measures combined with lifestyle improvements lower coronary disease risks

Researchers from the University of London reporting in The Lancet reveal that if you have a very stressful job and are not given the freedom to make decisions, your chances of experiencing a heart attack are 23 percent higher compared to people of similar age whose jobs are less stressful. The lead study author, Dr. Mika Kivimaki commented "Our findings indicate that job strain is associated with a small, but consistent, increased risk of experiencing a first CHD event such as a heart attack."

A prior study from the Women's Hospital in Boston found that women in highly stressful jobs are 40 percent more likely to suffer from heart and cardiovascular diseases, including heart attack, ischemic stroke and blocked arteries, than other females of the same age. In the study, researchers analyzed the lifestyle of 10,000 civil servant workers from 2008 to establish the link between job stress and heart disease.

To conduct the analysis, researchers compared 13 existing European studies covering nearly 200,000 people and found 'job strain' was linked to a 23 percent increased risk of heart attacks and deaths from coronary heart disease. The scientists found that while work in any type of job can contribute to job stress, the most serious incidence of detrimental stress was found with lower skill workers, as opposed to more skilled professionals with decision making responsibilities.

Researchers determined that while job stress plays a critical part in determining cardiovascular disease risk, it does not contribute as significantly as smoking or lack of regular exercise. The study team concluded "Job strain is a measure of only part of a psychosocially damaging work environment, which implies that prevention of workplace stress could reduce incidence of coronary heart disease...exposures such as job insecurity and factors related to social capital and emotions, are likely to be of major importance in the future." The study highlights the critical importance of following a healthy lifestyle and avoiding home and work stressors to lower heart disease risk.

Sources for this article include:

http://www.thelancet.com
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/250289.php
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19584526
http://www.nydailynews.com

About the author:
John Phillip is a Certified Nutritional Consultant and Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. John is the author of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan', a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise, Mind and Targeted Supplementation to achieve your weight loss goal. Visit My Optimal Health Resource to continue reading the latest health news updates, and to download your copy of 'Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan'.