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Women’s health: Work stress can make your heart weaker

Work Stress

According to a recent research by the Institute of Women’s Health Research, working under high pressure may result in various heart ailments in women. The growing demands in work enhance the probability of stroke, bypass surgery or a heart attack in women working under constant stress.

How does stress lead to heart risk?

Stress is an imbalanced physical and mental reaction towards outside stimulus. Chronic exposure to stress elevates the levels of related hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. This leads to adverse effects occurring at an early age. Women working under stressful conditions, complain of persistent chest pains and high blood pressure.

As a result, it becomes tough for them to practice healthy heart habits like maintaining proper diet, adequate sleep and exercise. Women are found to be less susceptible to coping with the stress levels due to their genetic make up or life experiences. Hence, they have a high risk of developing heart disorders.

Women and the work pressure

If you are working under intense pressure then you are prone to develop stress borne disorders at the early age of 40. The risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, weight gain and heart attack. Women experience much more stress as compared to men while working on the same designations. The following factors influence the stress level in women:

1. Fear of losing their job.

2. Competition with the opposite sex for job equality.

3. Performing fairly to achieve the desired goals.

4. As compared to men, women are found to worry more about maintaining a balance between their personal and professional lives.

High demanding jobs

With reference to a study carried out by the Institute Of Women’s Health Research, women working in a stressed environment face a 40% higher risk of heart failure and cardiovascular diseases as compared to those working in a less strenuous environment. The research was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2010.

According to the research, work stress amplifies with the demanding jobs having little or no space for decision making. Hence the likelihood of displaying individual skills is less probable. The research was carried out by a team headed by doctors from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.

The team included Michelle A. Albert, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s senior author and associate physician at the hospital. According to Dr. Albert, the stress level can lead to both short and long term effects.

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