Chronic Occupational Stress, Sedentary Work, and Cardiovascular Risk: Evidence Relevant to the U.S. Workforce and the Moderating Role of Physical Activity

@article{1720146,
      author = {Adedayo Adekola},
      title = {Chronic Occupational Stress, Sedentary Work, and Cardiovascular Risk: Evidence Relevant to the U.S. Workforce and the Moderating Role of Physical Activity},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2022},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {221-232},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1720146.pdf},
      abstract = {Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of U.S. adults and most exposure that people get to modifiable risk factors occurs during the workday. Two occupational stressors present in the modern American workplace chronic psychosocial stress at work and prolonged occupationally-derived sitting have been associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk individually, however, few studies have examined both exposures, and what effect regular exercise may have to mitigate those risk markers is unknown. This narrative review is meant to bring together theoretical, epidemiological and mechanistic evidence to study the impact of occupational stress (job strain and effort-reward imbalance) as well as sedentary work on cardiovascular outcomes among U.S. workers and assess the evidence, to date, for physical activity as a potential moderator. A narrative synthesis was undertaken of 20 different peer-reviewed sources ranging from foundational models of stress to prospective cohort studies, systematic reviews or meta-analyses. High levels of job strain (characterized by high psychological demands and low decision latitude) have been consistently linked to greater risks of myocardial infarction and coronary heart disease in U.S. and similar, industrialized populations, with some theorized mechanisms being dysregulations in the autonomic nervous system and hypotalamo pituitary adrenal axis and adverse health behaviors. In large-scale meta-analyses, higher levels of occupational sedentary behavior predicted higher risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality independently of leisure-time physical activity, although this association was much weaker among people who had higher levels of physical activity on their leisure time. The reviewed evidence indicates that occupational stress and physical activity exposure has overlapping, but different physiological exposures and pathways, and that physical activity exposure has a meaningful interaction in mitigating the increased risk from either exposure. Replacing work related risk factors, promoting structured movement, and promoting physical activity existence studies indicate that workplace strategies that include combining the job redesign and physical activity promotion may provide a more holistic pathway to cardiovascular risk reduction for the U.S. workforce than changes which target a single work risk factor alone.},
      keywords = {Occupational Stress, Cardiovascular Disease, Job Strain, Sedentary Behavior, Physical Activity, Workplace Health, U.S. Workers.},
      month = {October},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV6I4-1720146}
  }