How you feel at work and the type of work you do are significant factors in your cardiac health. Studies show that your job can have a great impact on your blood pressure and overall cardiac health. Workplace stress, in particular, has been found to:
- Increase inflammation, which increases the risk of developing plaque in your arteries
- Affect the amount and quality of sleep you get
- Cause your blood pressure and heart rate to increase
- Disconnect or distance you from loved ones and isolate you from the emotional support you need
Other workplace factors that play a role in your heart health are exposure to toxins, extreme temperatures and being sedentary.
If you’re happy with your job, have a supportive work environment and have control over your work situation, you’re less likely to have high blood pressure and heart problems.
While how you feel is important, it can’t be denied that some jobs are just harder on your heart than others.Here are a few examples:
Heart-Healthy Occupations
- Personal Trainer: Fitness and activity requirements keep you moving
- Florist: Plants and flowers are calming and lower your pulse
Heart-Taxing Occupations
- Bus Driver: Sedentary and requires vigilant attention at all times
- Shift Worker: Hard on body and can affect eating habits and weight
- Desk Jockey: Pressure, deadlines and little physical activity
What can you do when you can’t change your profession?
- Move more often throughout the day, try to get up from your desk a couple times each hour and stretch
- Make time to exercise regularly
- Communicate with your boss about deadlines, priorities, training, etc. and suggest solutions that would ease your stress level
- Take advantage of employee assistance and wellness programs
- Find ways to relax and have fun when you're not on the job
- Focus on getting quality sleep
- Add greenery to your workspace and spend time in green spaces like parks
- Take scheduled breaks and lunch away from your desk and use your vacation days
- Get regular screenings for heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Help with Prevention and Early Detection of Heart Disease
Your primary care physician can help you assess and work to minimize your risks for cardiovascular disease. If you don't have one, find a primary care provider in our online directory.
Beaufort Memorial offers two screenings that can be particularly helpful with assessing your risk for cardiovascular disease:
- Vascular Screening – This $60 screening package determines you risk for having a stroke or developing peripheral vascular disease or peripheral artery disease.
- Coronary Artery Screening – A non-invasive CT scan shows your risk for heart attack or heart disease in the next three-to-five years.