How Does Workplace Stress Effect Health?

Workplace Stress: A serious health issue

Photo: Adam Ciesielski

The health effects of stress in the workplace have become a cause of serious concern – not only for employees, but for the employers as well.

Stress prompts the body to prepare itself and fight away the factors causing stress. This is a normal reaction of body for any stress producing condition, and triggers many changes in the body –also called fight or flight syndrome. The body bounces back to normal after these episodes of stress.

However, when such conditions are faced at the workplace, stress is endured by employees for long periods as job conditions don’t change immediately and stress in the workplace carries on for long periods of time. Such prolonged periods of stress affect the health of employees adversely and may cause some serious chronic diseases.

The symptoms of stress at the workplace

Initially, job stress shows itself as –

• Irritability, mood changes and short temper,
• Relationship problems in family and at the workplace,
• Headache and lowered concentration,
• Stomach upset, and,
• Sleep Disturbances.

How does stress effect health?

However, prolonged job stress gives rise to serious health conditions. NIOSH, in its study, found that following chronic diseases may be caused in employees in cases of prolonged periods of stress the workplace–

1. Cardiovascular Disease – The jobs that place employees under immense psychological pressure and where employees have little or no control over the work processes make them prone to Cardiovascular Disease.
2. 2. Musculoskeletal Disorders – Prolonged conditions of workplace stress increase the chances of employees developing musculoskeletal disorders of back and upper extremities.
3. 3. Psychological Disorders – Workplace stress causes burnout, anger, disturbed relations and other undesirable psychological conditions.
4. 4. Cancer, Ulcer and Impaired immune function – Going through long periods of stress in the workplace may give rise to Cancer, Ulcer and Impaired immune function.
5. 5. Injury at the workplace – Chances of workplace injury are more for the employees who are working under stressful job conditions.





Further Reading

What is Workplace Stress?

Five Main Causes of Stress

How Good Are You At Stress And Time Management?

Stress Relief Tips & Techniques: Top 10 Stress Relievers

6 Simple Steps to Relaxation Response

Aromatherapy for stress relief: How Natural Scents Change Your Moods




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