Stressed at work? Look out for your heart

LONDON - Reuters

Highly demanding jobs increase the risk of heart attack, a new study says

People who have highly demanding jobs and little freedom to make decisions are 23 percent more likely to have a heart attack compared with their less stressed out colleagues, according to research published on Sept. 14. But lighting up a cigarette or remaining chained to your desk is far more damaging for your heart health, researchers said.

A study of nearly 200,000 people found around 3.4 percent of heart attacks can be attributed to job strain, but far less than the 36 percent attributable to smoking and 12 percent put down to lack of exercise.

“The findings indicate that job strain is associated with a small, but consistent, increased risk of heart attack,” said the researchers.