Being in a stressful job raises a person's risk of developing asthma by 40 percent.
Many studies in the past have linked stressful work conditions to adverse health outcomes. However, the relationship between work stress and asthma has not been examined. To investigate this, researchers followed 5,114 Germans aged between 40 and 65 years over eight years.
It was found that among those free of asthma at the start of the project, there was up to a 40 percent higher incidence of asthma eight years later if they suffered stress at work. The signs of stress were long working hours, demanding schedules and uncomfortable working conditions.
The study suggests work stress and the inability to relax after work are associated with a high risk of asthma. This could be attributed to the fact that stress can lead to the release of chemicals that promote allergies and disrupt the way the body tackles inflammation of the airways.
Many studies in the past have linked stressful work conditions to adverse health outcomes. However, the relationship between work stress and asthma has not been examined. To investigate this, researchers followed 5,114 Germans aged between 40 and 65 years over eight years.
It was found that among those free of asthma at the start of the project, there was up to a 40 percent higher incidence of asthma eight years later if they suffered stress at work. The signs of stress were long working hours, demanding schedules and uncomfortable working conditions.
The study suggests work stress and the inability to relax after work are associated with a high risk of asthma. This could be attributed to the fact that stress can lead to the release of chemicals that promote allergies and disrupt the way the body tackles inflammation of the airways.