September 11, 2006 – Stressful Work For Several Years Can Raise Small But Significant Blood Pressure, Study Finds1 conducted with Quebec City officials.
A team of researchers from Laval University has in fact surveyed more than 6,700 workers2 from 18 to 65 years old working in 22 public service organizations. Physical measurements (blood pressure, height, weight, waist circumference) and a self-administered questionnaire made it possible to establish the profile, the degree of stress and the lifestyle of each participant at the start of the study and to reassess the all seven years later.
In workers under stress during all these years, there was an increase in systolic blood pressure averaging 1.8 mm / Hg in men and 0.5 mm / Hg in women. A similar increase was observed among people who found themselves in a stressful job during the period considered by the study.
Stress was also felt more in people who had little social support at work, according to the data collected.
Researchers claim that work-related stress has an effect of a magnitude comparable to sedentary lifestyle or aging.
Stress at work: knowing how to define it
According to the principal investigator, the DD Chantal Guimont, it is important to clearly define what is meant by stress at work. “This is not the somewhat abstract concept of stress that is often mentioned. Rather, it is a combination of high psychological demand and low decision latitude, ”she explains.
Psychological demand reflects the amount of work, the time constraints and the level of intellectual effort. As for decision-making latitude, it encompasses learning opportunities, autonomy and participation in the decision-making process.
The DD Guimont and his team believe that interventions aimed at reducing stress at work could have a positive impact on blood pressure. Which could help prevent cardiovascular disorders. Indeed, reducing systolic pressure by two units drops the risk of heart disease and stroke by 7% and 10%, respectively, according to other research results cited in the Université Laval study.
Claudia Morissette – HealthPassport.net
1. Guimont C, Brisson C, et al. Effects of job strain on blood pressure: a prospective study of male and female white-collar workers, Am J Public Health, 2006 Aug; 96 (8): 1436-43.
2. Employees who carry out a manual activity have been excluded.
