Heart Attack Risks Linked to Unemployment

Risk is on par with smoking

Being unemployed is linked to a 35 percent greater risk for heart attack in adult Americans than those who had not experienced job loss, according to a new study. Researchers suggest unemployment, experiencing multiple job loss and even going for short periods without work carry a heart risk that is on a par with smoking, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. The more jobs people lost, the higher their risk for heart attack; 22 percent for one job loss, 63 percent for those who had lost four or more. And the risk of having a heart attack was "particularly elevated" during the first twelve months of unemployment (27% higher risk), but not after that. (Medical News Today)

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