The silent rhythm of stress in the workplace

Your heart races unexpectedly, pounding against your chest. You feel a fluttering, irregular heartbeat. Shortness of breath follows, accompanied by weakness and fatigue. These aren't just symptoms of a stressful day at work – they could also be signs of atrial fibrillation, a heart condition that new research suggests may be linked to the nature of our working lives.

Take Jay King, for example, an engineer at Abbott with over 16 years of experience in challenging roles. From vascular production to leading special projects in rapid diagnostics, Jay's career mirrors that of many professionals navigating today's challenging corporate landscape. In 2020, he even played a key role in Abbott's expansion of COVID-19 testing. But despite his active lifestyle, a routine check-up revealed an unexpected diagnosis: Jay was suffering from atrial fibrillation.

New research reveals link between workplace and atrial fibrillation

A recent 18-year prospective study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association sheds light on why professionals like Jay may be at risk. The study, led by Canadian researchers and published last week in the Journal of the American Heart Association Journal of the American Heart Associationinvestigated the association between psychosocial stress factors in the workplace and the occurrence of atrial fibrillation in almost 6,000 employees.

The results are remarkable:

• In workers exposed to high occupational stress (high demands combined with low control), the risk of developing atrial fibrillation is increased by 83%.
• People who experience an effort-reward imbalance in the workplace (high effort with low recognition or compensation) are 44% more likely to be at risk.
• In individuals exposed to these two stressors, the risk of atrial fibrillation was almost twice as high as in individuals exposed to less stressed individuals.

But what exactly is atrial fibrillation? It is the most common form of abnormal heart rhythm and affects about one in four middle-aged adults during their lifetime. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat chaotically and irregularly and not in coordination with the lower chambers. This can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart complications.

The study's findings highlight how our modern work environments may be contributing to this health risk. Long working hours, tight deadlines, constant availability and the blurring of work-life boundaries are all hallmarks of many office jobs. These factors can create a perfect storm of chronic stress, potentially setting the stage for heart problems such as atrial fibrillation.

Detoxification Management: A Heart-Healthy Approach

This research underscores the urgent need for what I call “detox management.” It's no longer just about productivity; it's about creating work environments that don't put our health at risk. Managers and business leaders have a critical role to play in mitigating these risks.

Although the link between workplace stress and the risk of atrial fibrillation is concerning, both managers and employees can take proactive steps to create a healthier work environment. My own heart attack last year sparked my deep curiosity about the relationship between work and heart health. This personal experience, combined with my work on detox management, led me to develop the RISE Framework for Healthy Leadership, which offers guidelines that may be particularly relevant in light of this new research:

1. Regarding: Managers should get to know their team members as individuals. Knowing each person's strengths and how they can best contribute can reduce stress and increase job satisfaction.
2. Inspire: Promote a sense of purpose in your team's work. When employees believe in the meaning of their efforts, hard work can be rewarding rather than exhausting.
3. Simplify: Clear expectations and focused priorities can significantly reduce stress in the workplace. Conflicting demands are often more stressful than hard work itself.
4. Authorize: Give employees a sense of control over their work. This can serve as a buffer against the negative effects of work stress.

By implementing these principles, leaders can create work environments that are not only more productive but potentially healthier for employees' hearts as well.

The implications of this research extend far beyond the individual. It challenges us to rethink our work cultures and management practices. While we strive for success in our careers, we must also make creating environments that promote our health and well-being a top priority.

Awareness is the first step. By recognizing the potential health impacts of workplace stress, we can begin to make informed decisions – both as individuals planning their own careers and as leaders shaping their organizations. The rhythm of our work lives should not come at the expense of our heart rhythm. It's time to listen carefully to what our bodies are telling us about our work and create workplaces that truly contribute to our health.