Unstable Workplace may Up Employee's Heart Attack Risk

An 18-year study from Finland has revealed that predictable workplaces are healthy because when employees feel ambiguous about their role in the organization and there is a lack of

An 18-year study from Finland has revealed that predictable workplaces are healthy because when employees feel ambiguous about their role in the organization and there is a lack of clear-cut communication, they might be at higher risk for heart attacks over time.

The study examined the possible link between job control factors and heart attacks, acute myocardial infarction, among 7,663 private sector employees.

Heart Attack - Overview
Heart attack is the death of the heart muscle due to loss of blood supply. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Other names for heart attack include acute myocardial infarction, coronary thrombosis, and coronary occlusion.

"The risk of MI was about 1.8 times higher in a disorganized setting than in an organized setting. Clear organization of work tasks matters," said lead study author Ari Vaananen, from the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki.

Although it has long been known that risk factors such as smoking and a lack of exercise can lead to poor cardiac health, the new study finds that characteristics of a job, such as an employee's lack of control, job awareness, unexpected changes, job strain and stress, could also lead to poor cardiac health.

"We looked at the measure of predictability, how an employee views the clarity of work goals and work roles, their ability to foresee work problems and how significant work disturbances interrupt the work process and outcome." Vaananen said.

Chest pain – Causes – Risk Factors – Symptoms – Diagnosis – Treatment
Ask any one who has experienced intense chest pain and they will vouch for the fact that it was the most frightening experience of their life!

The researchers sent questionnaires to 12,173 employees in the multinational forest industry who had worked for their company for at least 24 months and who were initially free of heart disease. In all, 9,292 employees, primarily blue-collar workers, responded.

The researchers looked at demographics, psychological distress, medical conditions and lifestyle risk factors.

Angioplasty
Arteries supplying the heart is sometimes blocked by plaque leading to heart attack.Angioplasty is a method by which a part of the blocked artery is expanded to place a stent.Once this is done normal blood flow resumes and the heart regains its normal function.

During the 17-year follow-up period, 56 employees died of acute myocardial infarction and 316 had nonfatal events.

Joan Gillman is the director of special industry programs at the School of Business at University of Wisconsin-Madison, said: "Not knowing what is expected in the workplace is stressful."

CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CPR or CARDIOPULMONARY RESUSCITATION can restore function of the heart and lungs due to any condition that causes the heart to come to a stop. This usually happens after a massive heart-attack.

Gillman said that educating the work force is important to improved predictability.

"The more that employees know what is expected of them and are given the proper training, the less stressful it is for them," Gillman said.

The study appears in the December issue of the American Journal of Public Health.

Source-ANI
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