Study highlights impact of job stress and personal life on cardiovascular health in Turku

Stress factors from work and personal life significantly impact cardiovascular health, according to a recent study from the University of Turku. The findings from the doctoral research indicate the importance of considering work-related factors, such as job stress, demands, and shift work, in the prevention of heart and vascular diseases. Additionally, personal life challenges, including major life events and financial difficulties, can also affect heart and vascular health.

As working-age individuals spend the majority of their time at work, these job-related factors influence their overall health. The research, led by Saana Karelius, measured blood pressure among working-age participants. Notably, it was observed that shift workers around the age of 60 exhibited higher daytime blood pressure compared to those following a regular daytime schedule. The level of job demands was reflected in the study’s results; individuals facing high work demands experienced a less significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure during sleep than those with lower job demands.

The study also examined the effects of retirement on cardiovascular health. Karelius noted that retirement was associated with an increase in nighttime systolic blood pressure, though this upward trend in blood pressure diminished shortly after retirement. Furthermore, shift work was linked to detrimental changes in 24-hour blood pressure patterns upon retiring, while factors such as gender, job position, work stress, or job demands did not seem to influence blood pressure behavior at retirement.

Previous studies have also indicated that home-measured blood pressure is a better predictor of the risk of heart and stroke-related mortality than office-measured blood pressure.