Not only do women who get fired or laid off by their employers have to contend with emotional distress, but they're faced with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease as well.

Research uncovered that women who involuntarily lost their jobs were more prone to suffer cardiovascular complications such as high blood pressure, heart attacks, chest pain and stroke. These symptoms are compounded by deterioration in their mental health, which triggers stress, depression and emotional problems.

In order to study the stress/unemployment connection researchers gathered data from a survey of nearly 35,000 black and white American women between the ages of 25 and 64. The women were divided into three separate groups: employed, involuntarily unemployed and homemakers.

Unemployment Weighs Heavy on Women's Cardiovascular Health

• Unemployed women reported the worst physical health, with 28 percent having high blood pressure and 6 percent having a self-reported heart attack, chest pain or stroke.

• Homemakers generally had health conditions comparable to employed women with the exception of cardiovascular disease, which was 1.7 times higher among the homemakers than among employed women.

• Employed women had the best physical health with only 19 percent having high blood pressure and only 2 percent with cardiovascular disease.

• Women who had lost their jobs reported an average of nine poor mental health days in the past month. Employed women only reported four poor mental health days in the past 30 days. Homemakers reported five poor mental health days.

There was a slight variation by race with homemaker and unemployment status among African-American women who were nearly three times more likely to report having experienced cardiovascular disease.

Researchers attributed the higher rate of mental health difficulties among unemployed women to suffering that accompanied unemployment. They also added that there is a greater chance they have to deal with other issues brought on by unemployment such as less access to health care, financial strain and the possibility of becoming underinsured or, even worse, uninsured.

This study proves that employment may provide a shield of protection to women and that it might be beneficial to further explore intervention methods for women who become unemployed.

Science Blog February 23, 2005

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

It would be futile to deny the powerful link between emotional stress and its affect on one's health. That connection between the psychological stress you feel and the negative effect it has on your body is something that conventional medicine has been relative inept at appreciating. This above study, which emphasizes the connection between unemployment and poor heart health in women, provides a clear example of how closely physical health and emotional health are interrelated. Stress plays a major role in the health of your immune system. It can also have negative impacts on: Blood pressure Cholesterol Brain chemistry Blood sugar levels Hormonal balance So, what can you do to lessen the emotional problems that can affect your health so profoundly? Well since you cannot eliminate stress, you can work to provide your body with tools to compensate for the bioelectrical short-circuiting that can cause serious disruption in many of your body's important systems. The key is not the stress itself but your body's ability to tolerate the stress. Meditation has been well documented as an effective strategy to address stress. The only problem is that many people struggle with doing it and may take many years to develop a proficiency in which they are actually able to benefit from the technique. Fortunately, there is an inexpensive and simple way that helps one rapidly achieve the same benefits as meditation. It involves brainwave synchronization technology where one passively listens to a CD in a relaxed mode. There are a number of different companies out there but I have found that the Insight CD is one of the most cost-effective solutions; it's remarkably effective and efficient. Users have said it helps them achieve inner peace, increase concentration levels, energy and creativity. It is especially helpful for those who struggle with insomnia. Another tool I've found to be invaluable for handling stress is the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), the energy psychology tool I regularly use in my practice. EFT is a form of psychological acupressure, based on the same energy meridians used in traditional acupuncture to treat physical and emotional ailments for more than 5,000 years, but without the invasiveness of needles. You can learn how to use it by reviewing my free EFT manual. Five other practical tips that will help you avoid and deal with stress include: Get enough sleep Avoid cigarettes Avoid alcohol Eat sensibly Exercise Related Articles: More Evidence That Stress is Major Factor for Infections Five Simple Strategies to Reduce Stress and Eliminate Exhaustion Stress is a Major Reason Why People Get MS Stress Can Be Very Costly Delay the Aging Process Naturally The Connections of Health