Work stress 'harming hearts'
Wednesday, 23 Jan 2008 09:36
Work stress changes biological processes, harming heart health
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A study of Whitehall civil servants has uncovered the biological mechanisms created by work stress that harm heart health, scientists say.
Previous studies have linked stress in the workplace with an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) but the reason for this has been unclear.
Research published today in the European Heart Journal is said to be the strongest evidence yet of the way work stress can lead to CHD, either directly, by activating stress pathways, or indirectly, via its association with unhealthy lifestyles.
The findings are based on a long-running Whitehall study of 10,308 civil servants since 1985.
Researchers found that chronic work stress was associated with CHD and this association was stronger among both men and women aged under 50.
Their risk of CHD was an average of 68 per cent more than for people who reported no stress at work.
Dr Tarani Chandola, first author of the study, said the most important new finding was how work stress triggers mechanisms underlying CHD.
The researchers found that workers suffering from great stress were more likely to have lowered heart rate variability and poor vagal tone – how signals are sent to the heart – leading to cardiac instability.
They also discovered that work stress was associated with poor health behaviours that could indirectly lead to CHD.
These include a poorer diet in terms of eating less fruit and vegetables, and less exercise.
About 32 per cent of the effect of work stress on CHD could be explained in this study by its effect on health behaviour and the metabolic syndrome.
"This study demonstrates that cumulative stress at work can lead to CHD through direct activation of neuroendocrine stress pathways and indirectly through unhealthy behaviours," Dr Chandola concluded.