Think you leave workplace stress behind when you leave the job? Think again! Job stress follows you and affects your health in ways you may not realize.
The leading causes of death in the US are: heart disease, cancer and stroke-in that order. What affect does stress at work have on your risk for any (or all) of these? PLENTY!
Research has proven that job stress jeopardizes a person’s health, regardless of other contributing factors such as smoking, diet, and lack of exercise. AARP magazine recently ran a story about a muscular 51-year-old marathon runner and Ironman triathlete-one fit guy right? WRONG! Five of his heart arteries were blocked at least 90% each!
How can this be? Stress proved to be the culprit…the chemicals released when we’re stressed cause blood to thicken and put us at risk of clogged arteries, heart attacks and strokes.
Recent studies have linked stress to cancer growth. Research reported in the journal Nature Medicine caused the medical community to take notice.
When mice with tumors were studied, the stressed mice had a tumor growth rate of 275% more than nonstressed mice and metastasis in the stressed mice was 50% higher. Researchers discovered receptors for the chemical adrenaline, released during stress, on the tumor cells! Proof positive that stress was contributing to the growth of the cancer.
The intent of this article is not to scare you but to create awareness of a factor you have total control over with major consequences for your future health and well-being.
Have you ever noticed how the same event may stress one person and amuse another? People’s perception of the event determines how they experience it-whether as a stressor or laughter moment. You can learn to laugh more at stress in the workplace and stress less by simply shifting your perception.
