St. Vincent Heartbeat: Job Loss and Heart Attack Risk
By: Jessica Ward
Updated: November 21, 2012
An interesting new study says being out of a job could also be putting your health at risk.
The study has linked unemployment to a higher risk for a heart attack.
Duke University researchers looked at the data from adults from 51 to 75 years old.
They found heart attack risks were significantly higher among those who were unemployed, especially within the first year of job loss.
The total number of job losses a person had and the cumulative time of unemployment were also associated with an increase in heart attacks.
Researchers say the elevated risks caused by prolonged unemployment were similar to the risks caused by smoking, diabetes and hypertension.
In other heart related news, the age of a female's first menstrual period could predict her risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life.
New data shows women whose cycle began at a younger age tend to have higher BMI's, greater waist circumferences and overall obesity than other women who started at an older age.
Because these are all risk factors for heart disease, early interventions could be needed for girls who menstruate at an early age.
And finally, close relatives of young people who have died of a sudden heart attack are at risk for heart disease themselves.
A new study found relatives younger than 35 had three times the risk of cardiovascular disease and ten times the risk of damaged heart muscle than the general population.
Researchers say autopsies should be performed in cases of young, sudden death and that close relatives of these victims should be screened for possible heart problems.
The study has linked unemployment to a higher risk for a heart attack.
Duke University researchers looked at the data from adults from 51 to 75 years old.
They found heart attack risks were significantly higher among those who were unemployed, especially within the first year of job loss.
The total number of job losses a person had and the cumulative time of unemployment were also associated with an increase in heart attacks.
Researchers say the elevated risks caused by prolonged unemployment were similar to the risks caused by smoking, diabetes and hypertension.
In other heart related news, the age of a female's first menstrual period could predict her risk of obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life.
New data shows women whose cycle began at a younger age tend to have higher BMI's, greater waist circumferences and overall obesity than other women who started at an older age.
Because these are all risk factors for heart disease, early interventions could be needed for girls who menstruate at an early age.
And finally, close relatives of young people who have died of a sudden heart attack are at risk for heart disease themselves.
A new study found relatives younger than 35 had three times the risk of cardiovascular disease and ten times the risk of damaged heart muscle than the general population.
Researchers say autopsies should be performed in cases of young, sudden death and that close relatives of these victims should be screened for possible heart problems.
