In todays (18 May 2009) Daily Mail, an article ” Heart disease is not a ‘man-thing’ ” can be considered as ambigious regarding the link between stress and heart disease and begs the question, are employers being protected against stress-related diseases? In the article to the question:-
“I have a stressful job. Am I likely to get heart problems?”
The Doctor answers, “There is no proof that stress actually causes heart disease but it can contribute to the symptoms” appear to to contradicting research finds that have linked stress to cardio vasucular disease.
From a quick search on registers of academic articles, there is no shortage of articles that are firmly suggesting links between stress and heart disease. Such as:-
In the article “Acute mental stress responses: neural mechanisms of adverse cardiac consequences: by Murray Esler *, Elisabeth Lambert, Marlies Alvarenga, Baker Heart Research Institute, Melbourne, Australia. Findings report….
“… illustrating that mental stress responses can be a cause of triggered adverse heart events such as myocardial infarction and sudden death: Panic disorder provides a special case, illustrating that mental stress responses can be a cause of triggered adverse heart events such as myocardial infarction and sudden death”
The Heart Centre at The Royal Melbourne, recent study by Alan Goble and Michael Le Grande Hospital suggest “There appears to be sufficient evidence to suggest that psychological depression as a response to life’s stressors may well accelerate the progress of cardiovascular disease .”
Many other articles show similar links between stress and its role in triggering and causing heart disease, not to mention a whole host of other psychological and physiological illnesses.
Work related stress is now recognised as a major contribution to low productivity, absenteeism and illnesses. All employers are bound by health and safety legislation, unproductive workplace stress is just as dangerous as smoking in the workplace.
www.healthinsurance.co.uk is an excellent resource, which provides protection in the event of critical illness .
Meditation has been shown to affect stress levels. If you don’t take care of yourself, no one else will!
Free Meditation resources and training
Mindfulness
Mindfulness (by Dav Panesar)
Symran (by Dav Panesar)
Five breaths (by Dav Panesar)
