The Jobs That Could Be Putting You At 47% Higher Risk Of Silent Killer Disease Revealed

HAVE you ever wondered if your job could be making you sick?

New research from Sweden reveals that some everyday roles may quietly put people at a much higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

GettyPeople who worked in roles involving face-to-face interactions with others were more likely to develop a serious health condition[/caption]

Jobs that require constant face-to-face or phone contact with upset or angry customers or clients often come with intense pressure and stressful encounters.

That means teachers, shop workers, receptionists, NHS staff and air stewards are likely to be among those most affected.

Previous research has linked bad working conditions like job insecurity, workplace bullying and feeling unrewarded to a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

But the new study, published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine, suggests that roles involving regular contact with people might also increase this risk.

Jobs requiring interactions with patients, customers, clients, passengers, and students can take a serious toll on workers’ health, raising the chance of developing type 2 diabetes by nearly 50 per cent.

Scientists from Stockholm’s Karolinska Institutet analysed employment and health records of 3million Swedes aged 30 to 60 who had no history of diabetes.

Over 15 years, those working in ‘emotionally demanding’ jobs with frequent ‘confrontation’ were up to 25 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes compared to people in less stressful roles.

Women in these jobs saw their risk rise by almost a quarter, while men faced an increase of about 20 per cent.

The risk became even higher when workers did not receive enough support from managers or employers to help cope with the stress.

In these cases, the risk of developing diabetes jumped to 47 per cent.

The researchers say their findings support what many have suspected for a long time, that emotional stress at work can seriously damage health.

Chronic stress, a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed for a long period of time, triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response. This can influence mood, immune and digestive systems, and heart health.

While the exact link between stress and diabetes is still unclear, experts believe chronic stress might interfere with the body’s metabolism and how it processes insulin.

Insulin is the hormone that controls blood sugar, and when it does not work properly the risk of diabetes increases.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious illness that is linked to 22,000 early deaths annually in England alone.

The condition happens when the body does not produce enough insulin or cannot use it properly, leading to high blood sugar levels which cause heart attacks, strokes and other serious health problems.

Although the study focused on jobs with face-to-face contact, working from home may not be without its own risks.

Missing the daily commute and moving less throughout the day could lead to weight gain and other health issues.

Experts have also warned that poor posture and too much screen time can harm both physical and mental health.

The researchers did acknowledge some limitations.

Their study did not include lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise or obesity, all important in diabetes risk.

But it did find the emotional demands of certain jobs can quietly damage health and increase the risk of this dangerous disease.