Stressed and undervalued office staff have double the heart risk

Having a demanding boss and tight work deadlines can double the risk of developing a serious heart problem, a study has found.
Office workers with stressful jobs who feel undervalued were found to be 97 per cent more likely to develop atrial fibrillation, a condition which causes heart palpitations and can lead to a stroke.
Researchers at the University of Quebec looked at nearly 6,000 white-collar workers in Canada, who were followed for two decades.
The employees all completed regular questionnaires measuring their “job strain” — which took into account measures such as heavy workload and tight deadlines. Then their medical records were studied.
Staff with high job strain, who also felt they were not paid or praised enough, were 97 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. A high salary did little to mitigate the effects of a stressful job. Staff with high job strain who were also highly paid were still 83 per cent more likely to develop the condition.
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Work-related stress can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn can cause serious heart problems including heart attack and stroke. Those with stressful jobs may also be more likely to turn to unhealthy habits such as smoking or drinking, increasing their risk of heart problems.
Dr Xavier Trudel, the study’s author, said the findings show the importance of bosses and workplaces implementing flexible working and relaxed deadlines, for the sake of their employees’ health.
He said: “Our study suggests that work-related stressors may be relevant factors to include in preventive strategies. Recognising and addressing psychosocial stressors at work are required to foster healthy work environments that benefit both individuals and the organisations where they work.”
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Trudel called for more research into “workplace interventions” that could reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation. “Examples of organisational changes include slowing down the implementation of a large project to prevent increased workload, implementing flexible work hours and holding meetings between managers and employees to discuss day-to-day challenges.”
The study involved data from 5,926 managerial or office workers from public organisations in Quebec. They were aged 45 on average at the beginning of the study, and 65 at the end.
About 1.4 million people in the UK have atrial fibrillation. It causes an irregular and usually abnormally fast heartbeat, which can lead to dizziness, shortness or breath and tiredness. People with the condition are more likely to have a stroke and may need medication to help restore a normal heart rhythm.
The research was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.