HEALTH FEATURE ARCHIVE
Job Stress, Early Warning Signs
Job stress can be defined as the harmful physical and emotional responses
that occur when the requirements of the job do not match the capabilities,
resources, or needs of the worker. Job stress can lead to poor health and even
injury.
Listed below are some early warning signs of job stress:
- Headache
- Sleep Disturbance
- Difficulty in concentrating
- Short temper
- Upset stomach
- Job dissatisfaction
- Low morale
Job stress and your health: what the research tells us:
- Cardiovascular disease: Many studies suggest that psychologically
demanding jobs that allow employees little control over the work process
increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Musculoskeletal disorders: On the basis of research by NIOSH
(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) and
many other organizations, it is widely believed that job stress increases
the risk for development of back and upper-extremity musculoskeletal
disorders.
- Psychological disorders: Several studies suggest that differences
in rates of mental health problems (such as depression and burnout) for
various occupations are due partly to differences in job stress levels.
(Economic and lifestyle differences between occupations may also contribute
to some of these problems.)
- Workplace injury: Although more study is needed, there is a growing
concern that stressful working conditions interfere with safe work practices
and set the stage for injuries at work.
For more, please visit the following MedicineNet.com areas:
For more information about occupational safety and health problems, call
1-800-35-NIOSH (1-800-356-4674), or visit www.cdc.gov/niosh
(http://www.cdc.gov/niosh).
Portions of the above information has been provided with the kind permission
of the Centers for Disease Control.
Last Editorial Review: 8/19/2002
