A study by the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has found that middle-aged people who do not work in management positions are more likely to develop heart disease or experience stroke.
The study, which focused on 45 year olds and above of both sexes, was conducted on 5,566 respondents, taking into cognisance their Body Mass Index (BMI), level of physical activity, diet, blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar levels and whether they smoked.
The points considered are tagged the Life’s Simple 7 by the American Heart Association.
The study found that men and women aged 45 or above have a higher risk of developing a heart disease or suffering stroke if they are not in management or professional roles but in sales, offices or in the service industry.
The respondents were highly scored if there blood pressure was lower than 120/80mm Hg; their total cholesterol below 200mg/dL; and or their blood glucose was lower than 100mg/dL while fasting or 140 without, Independent reported.
It was found that those in management or professional roles were less likely to develop heart disease or experience stroke because they had better blood pressure, BMIs, were more likely to exercise and didn’t smoke.