Work stress may increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat

WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) — Work-related stress may significantly increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a common heart condition characterized by an irregular heartbeat, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

The study, led by Xavier Trudel, an epidemiologist specializing in occupational and cardiovascular diseases at Laval University in Canada, followed nearly 6,000 office workers for 18 years.

The research team focused on the impact of workload and the imbalance between efforts made and rewards received, such as bonuses or job security.

The findings showed that employees with high work pressure had an 83 percent higher risk of developing atrial fibrillation compared to employees without such stress, while employees with an effort-reward imbalance had a 44 percent higher risk.

“The effectiveness of workplace interventions to reduce psychosocial stressors that may also reduce the risk of AFib should be examined in future research,” Trudel said.

‘Our research team previously conducted an organizational intervention designed to reduce psychosocial stressors at work, which was shown to effectively reduce blood pressure. Examples of organizational changes implemented during the intervention included delaying the implementation of a large project to avoid an increased workload; implementing flexible work hours; and holding meetings between managers and employees to discuss daily challenges.’

The results suggest that employers and policymakers should prioritize creating positive work environments to protect employees’ cardiovascular health.

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