◆What is ‘workplace hypertension’?
First of all, there is something called ‘masked hypertension’. This is when a blood pressure reading at a clinic or other such medical environment displays a normal level, but a reading in another environment, such as at home, shows a significantly higher number. With this condition, when you’re under stress your typically healthy blood pressure can experience sudden rises, surpassing normal levels. Some doctors state that if this condition persists it can give way to full-blown hypertension, so it’s important to take it very seriously.
’Workplace hypertension’ is a form of masked hypertension where blood pressure rises while at the workplace due to work-related stress.
◆‘Workplace hypertension’ is truly fearsome
Blood pressure isn’t something you typically measure whilst you’re working is it? If you were told your blood pressure was normal during a check-up then you’re unlikely to notice your high blood pressure at work, which can lead to a delay in the discovery and treatment of the condition. This is the scariest aspect of workplace hypertension.
Prolonged periods of high blood pressure can damage your heart, kidneys, etc. and increase the risk of strokes and heart attacks, which is why workplace hypertension is considered to require an even higher level of caution than regular hypertension.
◆It can be dealt with at the workplace
Workplace hypertension can be discovered by taking blood pressure readings at work. Additionally, continuous blood pressure readings at work can be used to gain a more precise and detailed understanding of blood pressure, and that in turn can be used to help with treatment. Based on this knowledge, recent times have seen many companies start keeping sphygmomanometers in the workplace in order to take blood pressure readings of employees during working hours.
This spring in particular has seen a number of personnel shifts and revisions in staff duties at the workplace, which will likely be a cause of stress for many. Sphygmomanometers are relatively cheap devices, so measures to combat blood pressure related conditions are definitely worth considering to accompany other efforts to help with things like mental health, etc.
