Is your job killing you? Heart experts recently released a study revealing the most heart-hazardous occupations, with sales, office support and service industries being at the top of that list.
Researchers presenting at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology/Lifestyle meeting in Phoenix yesterday revealed the results from a study involving 5,566 employed men and women who did not have a history of heart disease or stroke at baseline. They found that participants aged 45 and older working in sales, administrative positions and service industries were significantly more likely than those in management or professional jobs to suffer heart disease and stroke.
After measuring modifiable risk factors like blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, exercise levels, diet, weight and smoking, researchers found that people in transportation, food preparation and protective service industries were also more likely than those in management or professional industries to suffer from strokes and heart disease.
"The lower the number of ideal cardiovascular risk factors, the easier it becomes to predict their future health ills, including premature death, heart disease, stroke and kidney disease," said lead researcher Captain Leslie MacDonald, a senior scientist in the U.S. Public Health Service, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, of the Centers for Disease Control.
The latest findings revealed employees in the transportation or material moving industries had the highest smoking rate, with 22 percent identifying as smokers.
The study also revealed that those in the food preparation and serving industries ate the worst, with 79 percent reporting poor eating habits. People in management or professional industries weren't far behind, with 72 percent of business and finance workers reporting poor eating habits. The third worst eaters were people in sales, office and administrative support professions, with 68 percent reporting poor eating habits.
People in protective service industries like police and firefighters were most likely to be obese and have bad cholesterol, followed by those in sales, office and administrative work.
The findings are important because they were based on modifiable risk factors, meaning individuals have the power to lower their chances of heart disease and stroke by making lifestyle changes. Experts at the American Heart Association have created an action plan called "Life's Simple 7" to help people take control of their heart health, including eating more fruits and vegetables, becoming more physically active and quitting tobacco.
"Older U.S. workers are not destined by age to have a poor cardiovascular health profile, but some workers have more barriers to achieving ideal levels than others," said MacDonald. "It's important to take small steps and not get overwhelmed or discouraged."
