Work Stress May Be Causing Brits To Drink, Smoke And Do Less Exercise, Study Finds
How Work Stress Could Be Damaging Your Health
PA/ The Huffington Post UK
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Stress caused by work may be having a serious negative impact on the nation's health.
That's according to a new study that revealed many people feel work pressures make them drink and smoke more, put on weight and do less exercise.
A survey of almost 1,400 workers revealed that almost a third believed work-related stress could lead to high blood pressure, while one in five feared it could cause a heart attack.
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The British Heart Foundation urged employers to encourage workers to spend at least 10 minutes a day improving their lifestyle.
Lisa Young, Project Manager for the BHF's Health at Work programme, said: "This survey is a stark reminder of just what happens when we don't take our health at work seriously enough.
"Millions of people say they are smoking more, exercising less and putting on weight because they're not considering the impact their job is having on their health and wellbeing.
"Behaviours like these can be extremely damaging, not just to your heart health but also to businesses. From working with over 9,500 organisations we know that the pay-offs of making health at work a top businesses priority are too great to ignore."
A third of those polled said they had put on weight because of work, half ate more unhealthily, a quarter drink more and 43% believe work has caused them to exercise less.
TUC general secretary Frances O'Grady said: "The BHF report is a shocking indictment of the modern world of work.
"Long hours, the insecurity of jobs on zero-hours contracts and the stress associated with them are all taking a toll on people's health.
"The report's findings show just how bad some workplaces have become. However, the answer is not just for employers to encourage their staff to change their lifestyle - it is for employers to improve working conditions, provide secure jobs and treat their workers like human beings rather than machines."
100 Ways To De-Stress
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Write your worries down in a journal. (credit:hey! My name is Fucchon~ I love photography so much. via Getty Images)
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Peel an orange. Studies show the smell of citrus can help reduce stress. (credit:Maciej Toporowicz, NYC via Getty Images)
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Read a book for six minutes. (credit:Oleh Slobodeniuk via Getty Images)
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Eat an avocado. The monounsaturated fats and potassium in the superfood can lower blood pressure. (credit:Patrick Llewelyn-Davies via Getty Images)
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Take a walk in green space. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Hang out with your BFF. (credit:Michael Kovac via Getty Images)
Listen to Mozart. (credit:Imagno via Getty Images)
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Try some aromatherapy. One 2009 study found it's an effective stress-relief technique, especially for high school students. (credit:Media for Medical via Getty Images)
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Let out a laugh. (credit:Tara Moore via Getty Images)
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Get a massage. (credit:Glenn Asakawa via Getty Images)
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Give someone a big hug. (credit:The Washington Post via Getty Images)
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Belt it out at karaoke... (credit:Mike Marsland via Getty Images)
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...Or sing in your church choir. (credit:George Frey via Getty Images)
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Do a small project or craft. (credit:Cavan Images via Getty Images)
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Take up knitting. Research shows the activity puts your brain in a state of flow similar to the one achieved through meditation. (credit:Loic Lagarde via Getty Images)
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Speaking of which, try a little mindfulness meditation. (credit:Peathegee Inc via Getty Images)
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Have sex. (credit:Alexander Nicholson via Getty Images)
Float in water. (credit:Taylor Weidman via Getty Images)
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Sleep. Not only is it crucial to zapping stress, it's key to your daily happiness. "When we're exhausted, we drag ourselves through the day instead of enjoying the day," HuffPost president and editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington once said. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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De-clutter your home or your desk. (credit:Jonathan Kitchen via Getty Images)
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Become a morning person. (Or at least embrace the morning.) (credit:keepps/Flickr)
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Spend time around horses. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Let out a deep sigh... (credit:christian.plochacki via Getty Images)
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...Or a primal scream. (credit:Ben Richardson via Getty Images)
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Make a silly face. (credit:JTSiemer via Getty Images)
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Close your eyes, even for just a few moments. (But don't do it while you're driving.) (credit:Eveline Kooijman via Getty Images)
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Brush your hair. (credit:Alexandra Wyman/Invision/AP)
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Do something nice for someone else. Good karma and less stress? Win. (credit:Ascent Xmedia via Getty Images)
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Give yourself some quiet time. (credit:Westend61 - Hans Huber via Getty Images)
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Write your thoughts on a piece of paper, then physically throw them out. (credit:Tetra Images via Getty Images)
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Stare at the color blue. (credit:thor_mark /Flickr)
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Look at old photographs. (credit:Vasiliki Varvaki via Getty Images)
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Set "stress boundaries." If someone -- or something -- is starting to stress you out, step away from the situation. (credit:Martin Barraud via Getty Images)