Stress
When you're under stress, the toll isn't just on your nerves. Unmanaged stress can lead to high blood pressure, arterial damage, irregular heart rhythms and a weakened immune system. Recent research shows that people under chronic stress are at higher risk for heart disease:
- In a study of 17,000 female health professionals, women whose work is highly stressful had a 40% increased risk of heart disease (including heart attacks and the need for coronary artery surgery) compared with their less-stressed colleagues.
- According to the American Institute of Stress, the incidence of heart attacks and sudden death have been shown to increase significantly following the acute stress of natural disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis.
- Depression has been proven to be a such a risk factor in cardiac disease that the American Heart Association (AHA) has recommended that all cardiac patients be screened for depression. The "fight or flight" response to stress has physical symptoms including spikes in blood pressure and elevated levels of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. In addition, stress often causes behavioral and lifestyle changes, such as overeating, lack of exercise, and increased use of tobacco and alcohol.
While stress is often caused by factors outside your control—natural disasters, serious illnesses, unreasonable bosses or co-workers, loss of loved ones—you can limit the damage stress causes to your body by learning to manage it more effectively.
We Can Help
Call VITAL WorkLife at 800.383.1908 any time, day or night, for the support you and your family need. We can discuss ways for you to build healthy habits and manage stress.
For more information
For more information about our comprehensive suite of well being solutions, contact us online.