Work Stress and Blood Pressure
There is a strong evidence that work stress – high job demands and low job control – is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including high blood pressure.
A recent study by Mc Carthy, Perry and Greiner published in the Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, investigated the association of different components – such as using or developing skills and autonomy or authority over work - of job control in a middle aged Irish primary care sample using clinic and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.
Study Objectives
a) examine the blood pressure levels of the participants (both workers and non-workers)
b) explore the relationship between job control dimensions and blood pressure
c) investigate night-time systolic blood pressure dipping among workers
Basic Information
Number of participants: 2047
Age: 50-69 years
Job control was measured using 2 scales: possibility for development and influence at work.
Data were collected on: sociodemographic factors, medication, clinic and ambulatory blood pressure.
Night-time (nocturnal) systolic blood pressure was the reduction in systolic blood pressure from day- to night-time using ambulatory blood pressure readings.
Study findings
The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age. Older workers with high job control are at more risk of cardiovascular disease resulting from high day- and night-time blood pressure with no evidence of night-time dipping, that is: reduction in blood pressure from day to night-time, a strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
Meditech is committed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by manufacturing reliable and accurate ambulatory blood pressure monitors and Holter ECG devices.
