Occupational Stress Associated With The Risk Of Heart Attack
Work-related stress is associated with the risk of heart attack throughout the world. There is no country or society that escapes this link, which has increased over time due to new work situations and the current vortex of the workplace.
On the other hand, the mortality associated with cardiovascular diseases has not decreased, as it happens with various pathologies. In fact, in recent times, increases of up to 15% in cardiovascular mortality have been detected.
In turn, disability associated with cardiovascular events increased more than tenfold – these are the sequelae that remain in people after suffering a heart attack or stroke.
In particular, those workers who work in stressful environments are exposed to an added risk factor. Some studies register up to 48% higher risk among these people than in the rest of the population.
And the possibility of a heart attack increases exponentially when stressed people meet other conditions such as smoking or obesity. In the long term, work stress is also associated with the risk of heart attack. A stressed worker increases the probability of a coronary event by 15% at 10 years compared to another worker without stress.
What is work stress?
Something that we have to define first to find the link between work stress and heart attack risk is what we understand by a stressful work situation. We know that it does not mean the same for everyone, but there are certain guidelines that allow us to unify the criteria.
Job stress is usually understood as the combination between a high psychological demand of the worker and a low level of control over the situation in which one works. That is to say, the worker suffers internally for the tasks that he must complete and, however, he does not find a mechanism to adapt.
In general, stressed workers are those who consider that many results are required of them in a short time, lack free spaces for personal fulfillment, perform monotonous tasks and are perceived as being without decision about their work.
If the person adapts to these situations, he will not suffer stress, but if he is not able to develop efficient defense mechanisms, or he is not able to modify his environment, then he is bankrupt. There are the symptoms of work stress:
- Depression
- Tachycardia
- States of anxiety or distress
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Lack of concentration
- Muscle contracture
Why is work stress associated with the risk of heart attack?
There are pathophysiological mechanisms that explain why work stress is associated with the risk of heart attack. Research in this regard has revealed various aspects of increased risk.
First, it has been noted that stressed workers associate their lifestyle with other risk factors. For example, they are smokers to a greater extent, consume alcohol frequently or are excessively sedentary. Poor diet also plays an important role.
When there is stress, whatever the origin, the brain amygdala increases the production of substances that are behind the formation of atheroma plaques in the arteries. In addition, stress instinctively activates the sympathetic nervous system, which releases norepinephrine, increasing the heart rate and closing the arteries.
If work stress causes depression – something that is common – substances increase in the body such as fibrinogen and tumor necrosis factor. These substances are inflammatory, and they add to the other arteriosclerotic processes.
It is also proven that stressful situations activate the adrenal glands, which release cortisol into the blood. Cortisol, known as a stress hormone, triggers processes that can culminate in cardiac events, in addition to promoting obesity and diabetes.
How to reduce the risk of heart attack associated with work stress
It is not easy to develop strategies that reduce the risk of heart attack due to work stress. There are many factors that go beyond the workplace itself, and that depend on the personality of the worker or intrinsic issues such as age.
What companies and employers can establish are physical activity regimes. Gym spaces can be considered in work or scheduled active breaks. With regular exercise, stress is significantly reduced and, therefore, cardiovascular risk.
For their part, the stressed worker must establish human restraint mechanisms to help them. Friendship and family ties are an important support, especially for depression. The greater the isolation, the greater the stress spiral.
Relaxation and stress management techniques have also proven useful. They can be taught by employers or be the initiative of the person suffering from the situation.
But, above all, what is required is a double commitment: employers and employees. Both must work together to reduce the risk of heart attack associated with work stress. Each one, doing their part, will establish healthier environments.
