Women with demanding jobs that lack creative opportunities at greatest risk
Women with high job strain are 40 per cent more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks, according to a study by the American Heart Association.
Job strain is a form of psychological stress defined as having a demanding job with little to no decision-making authority or opportunity to use creative skills.
Researchers, who presented their findings at the association’s annual conference in Chicago,looked at more than 17,000 female health professionals, with an average age of 57, who showed no signs of cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study. They followed up with the women over 10 years and noted women with high job strain were more likely to be sedentary and to have high cholesterol. They were also 43 per cent more likely to undergo bypass surgery; however there was no link to either stroke or risk for death.
Women who felt insecure about their jobs and feared losing them were more likely to have several risk factors for cardiovascular problems, including physical inactivity, high cholesterol, hypertension or diabetes.
Women should try to exercise regularly, not bring their work home and have a close network of friends and family to protect their health, said researchers.
