Why Stress at Work Raises Odds of Heart Disease
Reuters Health News,  Jan. 19, 2006

Tarani Chandola of the University College London (UCL), and colleagues, matched assessments of the stress levels of more than 10,000 British government workers over the past 20 years with the components of metabolic syndrome, measured between 1997 and 1999. The scientists also logged lifestyle factors, such as drinking, smoking, diet and exercise. The researchers found that more stress at work correlates with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, the cluster of traits--including  elevations in blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar and weight--that is associated with heart disease and diabetes. These findings suggest that workers who are under stress should preventively undertake lifestyle changes that will decrease stress and reduce their risk of metabolic syndrome.

(British Medical Journal, online edition)