Table of contents:
- Recognizing the symptoms of stress due to work
- Is it true that stress can cause death?
- Can stress from work shorten life?
- Avoid stress due to work
In general, working hard is a good thing. Working hard can help you increase your potential and pursue a better career ladder. However, working too hard to cause stress can have fatal consequences. Research shows that stress can cause premature death or sudden death. So, you shouldn't underestimate the stress that comes when you are struggling with the various pressures you face at work. Look carefully at the complete information about stress due to work below.
Recognizing the symptoms of stress due to work
Stress is a condition that can slowly haunt you, so sometimes you don't realize it. Especially when it comes to work, many people underestimate or don't really understand the symptoms that indicate stress. Stress due to work is also often known as job burnout. The following are examples of symptoms of work stress.
- Always feel tired even after getting enough sleep or consuming caffeinated drinks
- Lose the enthusiasm and urge to go to the office and work
- Negative thoughts arise about your professional life, for example about what you do, the people on your work team, or the results you will achieve
- Cognitive disorders such as difficulty concentrating or remembering
- Decreasing performance, for example not being able to meet deadlines or targets to be achieved
- Personal problems arise with colleagues, clients, bosses, and even family at home
- Ignoring health and self-care, for example by smoking, drinking too much coffee, forgetting to eat, or taking sleeping pills every night
- Not being able to take your mind off your job even when you are not working or at the office
Is it true that stress can cause death?
According to a study conducted by Yale University School of Medicine, stress in humans can lead to sudden death due to abnormal heart rhythms. The study, published by the American Heart Association in the journal Circulation, reveals that work or study stress (or anything that involves a person's performance and achievements) can change the rhythm of a human heartbeat. Arrhythmias or heart rhythm disturbances that occur in people who are stressed happen more quickly and are more difficult to control than those who have arrhythmias for other reasons. Mental stress has a profound effect on the heart circuits. If your stress is too great, you can suddenly have a fatal or fatal heart attack.
Other research by experts at Columbia University Medical Center also supports the findings of the Yale University School of Medicine. In the six-year study, it was found that those with heart problems and experiencing severe stress were at risk through "vulnerable periods". This period is a period when a person is prone to sudden death caused by stress and complications in the heart. Usually this vulnerable period lasts about two and a half years. After passing this period, the study, which involved 5,000 participants, concluded that the risk of premature death or sudden death will gradually decrease.
Can stress from work shorten life?
The impact of stress due to work has often been discussed, for example, a deteriorating health condition. However, a recent study conducted by Indiana University's Kelley School of Business revealed a new fact. Prolonged stress due to work situations can cut life expectancy, aka hasten someone's death. The seven-year study found that people who had little (or no) control over their jobs tended to die faster than those who were more flexible at work.
Two factors were considered in reaching this conclusion. The first factor is the size of the job demands faced by research participants, such as the amount of work, the length of time worked, and the concentration required. The second factor is control over their work. Control over work, for example, is the freedom to decide for yourself work flow or the most appropriate work schedule, freedom of opinion, and opportunity to make up your own mind.
The results of the study were quite surprising. Those whose work demands were very high and did not have much control over their jobs showed a mortality rate that was 15% faster than the average person. Meanwhile, those who have complete control over their jobs have a life expectancy of 34% longer than those who do not have control over their jobs.
Avoid stress due to work
To avoid work stress, you need to really understand your own nature and habits. By recognizing your work habits, you will become more adept at adjusting to the pressures and problems that arise. Also make sure that you really like your job. Thus, the challenges you face will feel lighter.
However, if you have started to feel some signs of stress, hurry to take the time to calm down. You may feel like you have no time left, but remember that forcing yourself to work under pressure will also not make you more productive. It's better to find a moment to rest and do things that can distract such as spending time with family. When doing this, first avoid your electronic devices so as not to add to stress and keep thinking about work.
