The effect of constant stress on a deep-lying region of the brain explains the increased risk of heart attack, a study in The Lancet suggests.
In a study of 300 people, those with higher activity in the amygdala were more likely to develop cardiovascular disease - and sooner than others.
Stress could be as important a risk factor as smoking and high blood pressure, the US researchers said.
Heart experts said at-risk patients should be helped to manage stress.
Every year, 17 May is dedicated to World Hypertension Day, the purpose of the which is to promote public awareness of the problem. Hypertension is also known as high blood pressure and astonishingly one in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. High blood pressure raises the risk of having a heart attack or stroke and every five minutes, someone in the UK has a heart attack. For strokes it’s one every 3.5 minutes.
Several factors are linked to causing high blood pressure:
Waitresses and nursing aides run a higher risk of stroke than janitors or teachers, according to research published in the journal Neurology. The study found that people who experience high levels of stress at work may be at greater risk for stroke.
July 2013
Nurses miss 1,000 hours due to stress as cuts bite at Sunderland hospital
STRESSED nurses were absent from work for almost 1,000 hours in the first three months of this year.
New figures from Sunderland Royal Hospital reveal exhausted staff nurses and specialist nurse practitioners (SNPs) were the groups most feeling the strain.
June 2013
Stress levels are straining relationships and having a negative effect on wellbeing, according to Teachers Assurance survey
On reading the latest report on teachers' stress levels, weary sense of deja vu descended. The survey by Teachers Assurance reveals that 76% of teachers believe that workplace stress is making them ill, with 56% believing they would do a better job if they were less stressed. In addition, 40% feel they argue more with their partners and friends as a result of the pressures they face and 83% said they feel constantly exhausted because of work.
The Heath & Safety Executive has increased its focus on work related stress. Reports from the HSE and trades unions have long reported on the rise of stress within the workplace, often leading to high rates of employee absence.
The latest figures show that around 10 million working days are lost each year as a result of stress and this is costing businesses dearly.
October 2010
University of Manchester sociologist, Tarani Chandola, has published a report that reveals the global economic downturn has caused levels of work-related stress in the UK to soar.
The report claims that in each of the last two years, work stress levels rose by more than 4%, compared to annual rises between 0.1% and 1% from 1992 to 2009.
The report states that severe stress could trigger depression, anxiety, workplace injuries and suicide, and lead to a greater risk of heart disease.
Professor Chandola compiled existing evidence from peer-reviewed journals and major UK surveys to obtain a comprehensive view of work-related stress.
