Do you feel stressed at work? According to a new report issued by U.S. health officials, occupational stress at certain jobs may increase your risk for a heart attack or stroke.
HealthDay News reports that some occupations — particularly blue-collar jobs and service industry positions — carry conditions that foster heart disease and stroke risks. Dr. Sara Luckhaupt of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health said in an official statement that job stress coupled with excessive noise levels and industry-related air pollution — such as secondhand smoke and dust — can all play a part in cultivating these health problems.
Exacerbating these risks is the fact that many workers in these industries already have a history of high blood pressure or cholesterol, which leaves them even more prone to suffering a heart attack because of their job. Luckhaupt's findings determined that nearly 2 percent of workers under age 55 have at some point experienced a stroke or heart disease.
"It's probably a combination of personal and work factors," said Luckhaupt. "The noise, the air pollution and job stress could be contributing to the personal risk factors, like difficulty quitting smoking."
Luckhaupt's report also indicates that unemployed Americans exhibit a greater risk for heart disease. As many as 2.5 percent of unemployed workers suffer a heart attack or stroke, a trend that may be owed to some combination of the stress of unemployment and a lack of health care access.
For her part, Luckhaupt recommends that more employers promote healthy living programs at work, as well as take steps to curb workplace pollution. But the average American can also take their own steps to ensure a more stress-free, healthier lifestyle, both on the job and at home, that fosters greater heart and brain health.
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