Double Risk of Heart Disease for Men in Stressful Work

Study Reveals Stats for Heart Disease and Men and Working in Stressful, Low-Reward Work

The study “Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Men and Women” examined 3,118 men and followed them for 18 years (from 2000 to 2018), with participants having no known heart disease at the commencement of the study.[1]

Men who said they experienced either job strain or effort-reward imbalance had a 49% increase in heart disease compared to men who did not feel like either response was relevant to their work lives.

While this study addresses the need for finding better balance in work environments through promoting work-life balancing, enhancing communication and empowering employees to have more control of their work, other integrative health approaches may be beneficial to improve overall health and wellbeing.

Integrative health strategies focus on combining conventional medicine with evidence-based complementary therapies to improve overall health. The Heart Foundation identifies a healthy diet, being active, quitting addictions such as smoking, and maintaining healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels as key focuses to help support a healthy heart.

In addition, leading health experts and research have shown ubiquinol, the naturally occurring antioxidant and vital component of the energy production process in cells, to be a key ingredient to support optimal heart health.[2]

As a pivotal ingredient for fuelling the mitochondria (cellular engines) and one of the strongest lipid-soluble antioxidants in the body, ubiquinol provides an active defence against oxidative and free radical damage to cells, supporting cellular health and maintaining health function of body systems such as the cardiovascular.

While the “Stressors at Work and Coronary Heart Disease Risk” study did not conclude that stressful, low-reward work impacts women, it is important for all individuals to consult their practitioner on integrative strategies to support overall health outcomes.

References:
[1] Lavigne-Robichaud M, et al. Psychosocial Stressors at Work and Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Men and Women: 18-Year Prospective Cohort Study of Combined Exposures. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 2023;16(10):e009700.
[2] Kawashima C, et al. Ubiquinol Improves Endothelial Function in Patients with Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Single-Center, Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Study. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 2020;20(4):363-372.