Job frustrations can be a heartbreaker for men
A job that’s demanding but less than rewarding may take a big toll on a man’s heart health, a new study suggests.
The study of about 6,500 white-collar workers found that men who habitually felt stressed on the job had up to double the risk of developing heart disease as their peers who were more content at work.
In some cases, that stress took the form of “job strain,” which meant that workers felt pressure to perform but had little power over how to get their work done.
In other cases, the central problem was “effort-reward imbalance.” Employees felt their diligence was not winning adequate returns — whether through pay, promotion, recognition or a sense of fulfillment.
Men who reported either kind of job stress were about 50% more likely to develop coronary heart disease over the next 18 years, versus men who were happier on the job.
The men who cited both types of job stress had a double risk of heart disease over their peers who reported neither work issue.
There was no similar effect, however, seen among women.
The new study, said a medical officer for the American Heart Association, adds to a pile of evidence that workplaces can, and should, help promote good heart health.
Source: HealthDay News
