People who have demanding jobs
and job strain are more likely to suffer one type of stroke, a review of
previous studies suggests.
Job
strain has been linked to heart attack risk in the past, but not necessarily to
stroke.
“Previous
studies on the association between job strain and stroke have showed mixed
results, with some studies showing an association and others not,” said lead
author Eleonor I. Fransson of the School of Health Sciences at Jönköping
University in Sweden, in email to Reuters Health.
In this
new analysis, which pooled the results of 14 earlier studies from Europe,
people with job strain had an increased risk of so-called ischemic stroke.
Ischemic strokes happen when the brain doesn’t get enough oxygen – when, for
example, the arteries are clogged.
The researchers used data from 14 European studies between 1985 and 2008. Altogether, almost
200,000 adults filled out questionnaires about job strain. The studies lasted
nine years on average.
Those
with a demanding job and little control over their work environments were
categorized as having high ‘job strain.’ This accounted for 13 to 22 percent of
people, depending on the original study.
In general,
out of every 100,000 people in Europe, each year 115 men and 75 women have an
ischemic stroke, earlier research has shown.
In the
new study, the risk of ischemic stroke was about 24 percent higher for people
in the job strain group than for the others.
There
was no difference in risk of hemorrhagic stroke, another common type, in which
a blood vessel ruptures and leaks blood into the brain.
High
blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and family history of stroke are
all important risk factors, but this data was not available for most people in
the new study.
The
researchers accounted for basic socioeconomic status, which they used as a
stand-in for other health risk factors, which lessened the increase in ischemic
stroke risk for those with stressful jobs.
This
present study is good contribution but of course the results present more
questions.
Some
strokes may have a genetic component, which may be why the researchers did not
find an association with hemorrhagic stroke.
The
classification is not so exact and they don’t discuss these different types of
hemorrhagic stroke.
This
and other studies do not necessarily prove that stressful jobs cause strokes.
However,
the association is plausible because stress might cause release of
stress-related hormones, which in turn affect the metabolic, immunological and
cardiovascular systems. Ischemic stroke, like heart attack, is
closely linked to atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries.
In any
case, the researchers agreed that job strain is hard for an individual to
change, even if it is increasing his risk for stroke.
Here
we have a very big issue because it’s employers’ responsibility to see that
working conditions are healthy. Individuals can’t control
this.
Stress
is only one of the potential factors at play with stroke risk.
The
recommendations are to keep track of your blood pressure, do not smoke, eat
well, keep a healthy weight and exercise. Along with that it
may also be good to try to avoid long periods of stress, but we do not
currently have evidence from interventions to prove this.
References:
Fox News online January 19 2015
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