Certainly stress can affect many aspects of health, so it really comes as no surprise that fear of losing one's job can make a peson ill. The results of the 16-year Americans' Changing Lives Survey showed that the threat of lay offs or being fired exerts a serious impact on health.
Researchers from the University of Michigan asked 3600 people questions regarding health behaviors and workplace issues, repeatedly, from 1986 to 2002. They found that chronic job insecurity had a greater impact on depression and related symptoms (like poor appetite, sleeping problems and sadness) than actually losing a job or even having a serious illness. Interestingly, the impact of this type of stress was found to be worse in African-Americans and people who did not work in the public sector.
The effect of stress on health is often overlooked in conventional medicine, even though there is an abundance of evidence showing impaired immune function, cardiovascular disease and poor mental health. There are many natural treatments to support the body during chronic stress, such as adaptogenic herbs and certain vitamins like pantothenic acid and vitamin C. Furthermore, behavioral modifications and stress reducing techniques can be quite helpful. Laboratory and clinical tests can determine the degree of impact stress has made on the body.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on July 29, 2006 01:29 PM
