A new study led by a doctoral student at the University of Southern Denmark, and published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, shows that physically demanding jobs exacerbate the risk of cardiac disease in women, and more particularly in those who are prone toarterial hypertension.
For their study, the team of doctors analyzed data on blood pressure and physical activity at work from more than 12,000 nurses. These were divided into three groups according to the physical strenuousness of their work: sedentary, moderate activity (most of the time standing and walking but in a position that is not physically strenuous) and high activity (most of the time standing but with the transport or handling of patients).
Three times the risk of ischemic heart disease
These nurses were followed for 15 years. During those years, 580 developed ischemic heart disease, a form of heart disease caused by the narrowing of the arteries, which reduces the blood supply to the heart. And nearly 12% of nurses have had high blood pressure. Of these, 46.3% reported high physical activity at work, 34.4% reported moderate physical activity, and 19.3% were sedentary at work.
By comparing the numbers, the researchers found that women with high blood pressure and who face heavy physical demands on the job had nearly three times the risk of ischemic heart disease.
“This means that there is an additive interaction between high blood pressure and elevated physical activity at work. The two risk factors appear to work together, resulting in greater incidence of heart disease“ say the researchers. These have not yet been able to determine the exact reasons why high physical work demands increase the risk of heart disease in women with high blood pressure, but they suggest it may be due to atherosclerosis (a hardening and narrowing of the arteries) which would be triggered by physical exertion.
Read also :
Young women must watch their hearts too
Energy drinks: 2 cans and your heart is racing
Heart disease: it can be serious, even for women