Impact of work stress on heart health
We spend most of our days of a week at work, and most of the hours of a day at work. With so much time being spent working, it is only natural for your work life to affect your life, mind, happiness and health.
According to a paper published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, stressed-out male workers who feel under-appreciated could be twice as likely to develop potentially deadly heart disease.
More about this latest research
A team of Canadian researchers spent nearly two decades studying stress and what’s known as “effort-reward imbalance,” or ERI.
Researchers followed 6,465 white-collar workers, men and women, for a total of 18 years — from 2000-2018. The participants did not have cardiovascular disease. 3,118 of the participants were men and 3,347 were women, with an average age of 45.
Understanding ERI and job strain
According to another article published in Frontiers in Psychology, “in the ERI model, work-related stress is conceptualized as lack of fairness of the reciprocity of efforts expended and reward received at work.”
Lead study author Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud, R.D., M.S., doctoral candidate, Population Health and Optimal Health Practices Research Unit, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center in Quebec, Canada, said in a news release that job strain “refers to work environments where employees face a combination of high job demands and low control over their work.” The Canadian researchers also studied the effects of both stress and ERI on coronary collapse.
Findings of the study
The study found that men who struggled with one of these issues (stressful work and underappreciation) saw a 49% increase in the risk of heart disease, compared to men who didn’t report those stresses.
Further, men who felt both stress and ERI together were at twice the risk for heart disease, compared to those who didn’t experience the combination. The researchers were not able to find a link between heart health and these various stressors in female participants.
Risks associated with heart disease
Heart disease can decrease blood flow to the heart, potentially causing a heart attack, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Considering the significant amount of time people spend at work, understanding the relationship between work stressors and cardiovascular health is crucial for public health and workforce well-being,” Lavigne-Robichaud said.
Key takeaways of the study
“Our study highlights the pressing need to proactively address stressful working conditions, to create healthier work environments that benefit employees and employers,” Lavigne-Robichaud said.
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