Poor sleep, stress add to perils of high blood pressure
Job stress, high blood pressure and poor sleep may be a recipe for an early death, researchers report.
In a study of nearly 2,000 workers with high blood pressure who were followed for almost 18 years, those who reported having both a stressful job and poor sleep were three times more likely to die from heart disease than those who slept well and didn’t have a trying job, the investigators found.
According to the study authors, a stressful job is one where employees have many demands but little control over their work. Poor sleep was defined as having difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.
Logically, then, to lower the risk of an early death, people should keep their blood pressure low, develop good sleep habits and find ways to cope with stress.
The researchers think that employers can help by implementing programs that teach employees how to relax. Employers should provide stress management and sleep treatment in the workplace, especially for staff with chronic conditions like high blood pressure. Such programs should also include helping employees to quit smoking.
Source: HealthDay News
