Work stress 'changes your body'
23 Jan 08
Source: BBC News
A stressful job has a direct biological impact on the body, raising the risk of heart disease, research has indicated.
Research published in the European Heart Journal found that people under 50 who find their work stressful were 70% more likely to develop heart disease than the stress-free.
Lifestyle was found to be a key factor in the development of the disease, as those reporting a stressful work environment were less likely to exercise and eat well.
However, the stressed workers also presented significant biochemical changes, and the researchers claim to have identified the biological mechanisms linking stress and disease, a connection which has previously been difficult to prove. These mechanisms were found to hold true regardless of lifestyle factors.
