Unemployment and the Heart

Filed in archive Heart and Stroke on February 10, 2007

It's a real blow when you lose your job, whether your a high paid executive or a struggling waitress. I know. Been there and done that. No matter the amount, you depend on that income and suddenly --- it's no longer there.

Loss of employment can cause stress, depression and anxiety. If the loss of income is sudden, for a while you may be too dazed to function and, instead of looking for new employment, you sit and watch TV or spend endless hours in bed.

Researchers have discovered that loss of employment can bring on some really heavy illnesses. An article in the Science Blog has this to say:

Researchers found that women who had become involuntarily unemployed experienced more high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease such as heart attack, chest pain and stroke. They also faced a deterioration of mental health such as increases in stress, depression and emotional problems.

In our society, job loss is often inevitable. If it happens to you, take it in stride and do what's necessary to remedy the situation before health problems are added to financial ones.