Stress Responsible for one in five Heart Attacks

Croner - 6th September 2004

Stress is responsible for around a fifth of heart attacks worldwide, according to a major international study.

The news will cause particular concern in the UK where the long hours culture leads to high levels of work-related stress. Heart disease is also the UK's biggest killer.

INTERHEART studied 30,000 people in 52 countries across all inhabited continents and found the picture is the same for men and women of all ages, all ethnic groups and in every geographical region. Stress was identified as an important indictor, even when allowances were made for the assumption that stress led to other contributory factors such as a poor diet, heavy drinking or smoking.

Examining the effects of stress more closely the researchers found that people who had had heart attacks had previously suffered from higher levels of stress at work and at home. The survey will add to the pressure from trade unions for action over issues like workplace bullying, poor training and long hours that can leave employees stressed out.