Deadlines raise heart attack risk six fold

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 14 Dec 2004 - 9:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

If you are on a tight deadline at work you are six times more likely to suffer from a heart attack during the next 24 hours, say Swedish researchers from the Karolinska Institute. Small periods of high pressure are worse for your heart than longer sustained periods of slightly elevated work related stress.

You can read about this study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

The Swedish study looked at 3,500 people who were involved in the Stockholm Heart Epidemiology Programme (SHEEP).

The study looked at how many first heart attacks there were among people aged 45-70, starting in 1992.

The Karolinska Institute researchers gave participants questionnaires which asked people about work stress (and also stress at home). They found that deadlines had a significant impact on heart attack risk. Other work factors were competition and conflict.

If a man had experienced a workplace conflict his chances of having a heart attack during the following 12 months went up by 80%. The more a male felt emotionally affected by the conflict, the higher his heart attack risk was.

What increases a woman's heart attack risk the most is a significant change in her financial situation - in many cases the risk went up three-fold.

If a man or woman is given more responsibilities at work, especially if he/she sees this new situation in a negative way, his heart attack risk can go up six fold while hers can go up three fold.

8% of the people who took part in the study and had had a heart attack, said they had experienced a stressful event at work within 24 hours prior to their attack. People who had experienced a stressful event not related to work experienced a much smaller increased risk of heart attack (than those whose stressful event was work related).

It seems, say the researchers, deadlines can increase your risk six fold - being in a competitive situation can double your chances of having a heart attack.

What is Stress?

Stress is simply the body's non-specific response to any demand made on it. Stress is not by definition synonymous with nervous tension or anxiety. Stress provides the means to express talents and energies and pursue happiness; it can also cause exhaustion and illness, either physical or psychological; heart attacks and accidents. The important thing to remember about stress is that certain forms are normal and essential.

As the body responds to various forms of physical or psychological stress, certain predictable changes occur. These include increased heart rate, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), and secretions of stimulatory hormones. These responses to stress will occur whether the stress is positive or negative in nature. In lay terms, it is known as the "fight or flight" mechanism. Continual exposure lowers the body's ability to cope with additional forms of psychological or physiological stress.

The results of continuing stress may cause disruption in one or more of the following areas of health: physical, emotional, spiritual and/or social.

Recognizing Stress

The following are indicators that you may be experiencing

-- General irritability

-- Elevated heart rate

-- Increased blood pressure

-- Increased accident proneness

-- Floating anxiety-anxious feeling for no specific reason

-- Trembling

-- Insomnia

-- Headaches

-- Indigestion

-- Pain in neck and/or lower back

-- Changes in appetite or sleep pattern

Stress is a process that builds. It's more effective to intervene early in the process rather than later. Try to become aware of the signs that suggest the process has begun.

Stress Management Strategies

The following are tips on how to maintain a healthier lifestyle and to prepare you to cope with the stress of everyday living.

-- Structure each day to include a minimum of 20 minutes of aerobic exercise.

-- Eat well balanced meals, more whole grains, nuts, fruits and vegetables. Substitute fruits for desserts.

-- Avoid caffeine. The substance may aggravate anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and trembling.

-- Reduce refined sugars. Excess sugars cause frequent fluctuation in blood glucose levels, adding stress to the body's physiological functioning.

-- Reduce alcohol and drugs. These substances may add to headaches and swelling, decrease coping mechanisms and add to depression.

-- Get a least 7 hours of sleep nightly.

-- Spend time each day with at least one relaxation technique - imagery, daydreaming, prayer, yoga or meditation.

-- Take a warm bath or shower.

-- Go for a walk.

-- Get in touch! Hug someone, hold hands, or stroke a pet. Physical contact is a great way to relieve stress.

• Additional
• References
• Citations