WHITEHALL STUDY LINKS STRESS AT WORK AND HEART ATTACK RISK
High pressure jobs which cause chronic stress at work can dramatically increase the risk of a heart attack.
This is a conclusion from scientific studies which uncovered the biological mechanism that shows how work stress causes ill health. This indicates the strongest evidence yet of the link between work related stress and heart disease. The Whitehall Study II followed 10,308 civil servants aged 35-55 – 6,895men (67%) and 3,413 women (33%) who were examined since the mid 1980s. Workers under the age of 50 who were identified as chronically stressed were 68 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack or angina.
Stress was measured by questions on working conditions and blood tests for stress hormones and heart rate variability. Between 5 and 10 per cent of the group were judged to be chronically stressed, with physical effects being more pronounced on weekdays - suggesting the link with work.
Men and women with low job control, either self reported or independently assessed, had a higher risk of newly reported coronary heart disease during follow up. Job control assessed on two occasions three years apart, although inter correlated, had cumulative effects on newly reported disease. Subjects with low job control on both occasions had twice the risk for a subsequent coronary event as compared with subjects with high job control at both occasions. This association could not be explained by employment grade, negative affectivity, or classic coronary risk factors. Job demands and social support at work were not related to the risk of coronary heart disease.
One of the conclusions is that low control in the work environment is associated with an increased risk of future coronary heart disease among men and women employed who were involved in the Whitehall Study II. The cumulative effect of low job control assessed on two occasions indicates that giving employees more variety in tasks and a stronger say in decisions about work may decrease the risk of coronary heart disease.
Key messages
- The risk of heart disease is associated with both objective and perceived low job control.
- Increase in job control over time decreases the risk of coronary heart disease. This suggests that policies giving people a stronger say in decisions about their work or providing them with more variety in work tasks may contribute to better cardiovascular health
The Southern Independent Medical Practice is the only independent private general practice between London and Cardiff and offers business owner/managers a full medical service which includes an annual comprehensive preventative HealthPlan screening programme to clients and their employees.
