A study has revealed that a demanding boss and tight work deadlines can significantly increase the risk of developing serious heart problems.
Office workers facing high levels of job stress and feeling undervalued are 97 per cent more likely to develop atrial fibrillation—a condition causing heart palpitations that can lead to stroke. Researchers at the University of Quebec tracked nearly 6,000 white-collar workers in Canada over two decades and assessed job strain through regular questionnaires, measuring factors like heavy workloads and tight deadlines, and reviewed participants' medical records.
The study found that those with high job strain who felt underpaid or unappreciated were almost twice as likely to be diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Even high salaries didn’t fully protect against this risk; employees with high job strain and high pay were still 83 per cent more likely to develop the condition.
Dr Xavier Trudel, the study’s author, emphasised the need for workplaces to implement flexible working arrangements and relaxed deadlines to protect employees’ health. He suggested that addressing work-related stressors could be crucial in preventive strategies.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, included data from 5,926 managerial or office workers in Quebec, averaging 45 years old at the study’s start and 65 at its conclusion.
In the UK, about 1.4 million people have atrial fibrillation, which can cause dizziness, shortness of breath, and increased stroke risk.
