Can Your Job Determine Blood Pressure?

blood pressureDo you feel that your current job makes you suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension? Coronary heart disease is regarded as a major cause of mortality across the globe and is strongly associated with problems in maintaining a normal blood pressure. Although studies have shown that improvement in cardiac care and health programs have resulted in a decrease in heart-related mortalities and possibly an increase in chances to live longer, it is also baffling to know that the incidence of cardiovascular diseases varies among socioeconomic classes. It is therefore important to understand that several factors may influence one’s chances to live longer, especially in relation to cardiac care and blood pressure maintenance.

The Effect of Employment on Blood Pressure

The British Heart Study report published in the journal PLoS One showed that the type of employment could influence one’s risk in developing heart disease. The report points out that in order to live longer, blood pressure monitoring and proactive cardiac care should be included in regular medical checkups. The study was conducted in order to determine whether discrepancies in the incidence of heart disease exist across various socioeconomic classes. The answers gathered from the study may be used in improving cardiac care programs that promote measures on how to live longer.

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In the study spanning 20 years of monitoring male subjects in the United Kingdom, the study showed that men who were engaged with manual jobs were more likely to struggle with high blood pressure and develop heart disease. Cardiac care was thus important in their health monitoring programs, allowing these individuals to check any changes in their blood pressure through time, in order to live longer.

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The study involved the participation of approximately 7,735 men between the ages of 40 and 59 who were monitored in terms of cardiac care parameters such as blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol levels, together with their social class based on occupation. The jobs of the study participants were classified into five classes consisting of professionals, managers, clerks, manual employees, and general laborers. The professionals, manager, and clerks were collectively grouped as the non-manual jobs, whereas the manual employees and general laborers were collectively identified as the manual jobs. Twenty years later, these male participants were evaluated again in terms of the same medical parameters.

The study showed that 20 years later, approximately 44% of the study participants had died and that the death rate of those individuals in the non-manual or higher employment positions was lower than those classified in the manual job categories. Interestingly, the men classified under that manual classes of employment showed a greater increase in body mass index, which is a strong key factor in the development cardiovascular diseases and fluctuating blood pressure. These individuals were also observed to have higher cholesterol levels, requiring the need for effective cardiac care to live longer.

The Blood Pressure Theory and Men

The male study participants who were employed in non-manual positions such as professionals, managers, and clerks showed that upon the 20-year follow-up, their blood pressure was relatively controlled as compared to those engaged in manual labor. It is possible that the quality and frequency of cardiac care received by non-manual employees are better and this may be attributable to the nature of their jobs. Based on these activities, the chances of non-manual employees to live longer may be higher, as compared to those engaged in manual jobs.

This recent medical report contributes helpful information on the discrepancies in the incidence of heart disease across society. Despite improvements in health programs, it is still possible that certain socioeconomic classes possess more risk factors that may influence the development of heart disease and determine chances to live longer. Constant cardiac care is thus important in order to control blood pressure and to live longer. As for us who are continuously working for a living until retirement, it is essential that we monitor our blood pressure and receive regular cardiac care, two major activities that increase our chances to live longer.

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