Stress, job loss affects health

The findings this week that people who lose their jobs experience poorer health comes as no surprise, especially in the current economy. Reports abound linking stress to high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease . Kate Strully, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation scholar at the Harvard School of Public Health, conducted research that found the likelihood of reporting fair or poor health increased by 54% among white or blue collar workers who lost a job through workplace closure. For those who had no pre-existing health conditions, the odds of developing a new health condition increased by 83%. WebMd offers suggestions on stress management, including better time management and changes in diet and exercise.