Work Environment, a Mistreated Cause of Heart Disease

A new study showed that jobs may increase the riskJob strain was evaluated through interviews
of developing some heart diseases such as coronaryperformed at baseline, a few weeks after returning to
heart disease. This study was published in the Journalwork and at the second and the sixth years.
of the American Medical Association.Work strain was based on two parameters:
As Dr. Chantal Brisson from University Laval inpsychological stress and decision latitude. High work
Quebec noted that (This research is the first time thatstrain was cleared as high psychological stress and
the result of stressful job has been considered in alow decision latitude. The major focus was on the
large number of men and women of different agesevent of CHD in participants with and without chronic
who have returned to work after a first heart attack).work strain, defined as high strain on the first two
Many early studies for heart diseases and attack haveinterviews.
focused on the result of medical factors or individualThe results showed that a total of 206 patients
characteristics including lifestyle. However, the effectexperienced the combined outcome of fatal Coronary
of work environment has rarely been researched.Heart Disease, nonfatal heart attack, or unstable
This study involved 972 participants (from 35 to 59angina. The study suggest to reduce the job stress to
years of age). Those participants had experienced areduce the risk of developing heart diseases, Specially
first MI and were tracked for ten years approximately.for those returned to work after a first heart attack.