It’s no secret that stress and burnout don’t exactly make you feel your best. Being tired and resenting your work place can make you truly miserable, and also make you sick. Stress has been linked to various diseases, from cancer to stroke and now also to type II diabetes.
A new study published in Psychosomatic Medicine studied the effects of burnout and the risk of developing type II diabetes in almost seven hundred people in the work force. The subjects studied appeared healthy and were employed in senior and middle management, self employed, professionals and nonprofessionals.
Each worker was evaluated for emotional exhaustion, physical fatigue and being mentally weary. Almost half had high levels of burn-out, while the other half was rated having low levels of burnout. The high burnout group was 84% more likely to be diagnosed with type II diabetes in the following three to five years after starting the study!
This may look like a high number, but it is important to keep in mind that still only 3% of the high burnout group was diagnosed with type II diabetes. Although burnout increases the chances of developing it, it is certainly not the only factor.
Regardless though, we know stress is bad for you. De-stressing is also easier said than done, but as more of these studies are conducted we should become more and more worried about the eventual cost of stress. “I don’t have time to exercise” and “I cannot afford getting a professional massage” are statements you’ll hear left and right when suggesting relaxation techniques for those highly stressed co-workers, family members or friends. At the end of the day though, what will your medical bill look like if you do not de-stress? Being cheap on your health now may cost you more in the future in terms of medical expenses, shortened life span and perhaps you will be forced to stop working sooner.
If your job is so demanding that you cannot afford 20 to 30 minutes of exercise a day, then it may pay to switch jobs. This too is easier said than done, but if you are seriously concerned about your health it should be your goal to change this aspect of your life.
- Easy Ways to Get Moving at the (Home) Office
- The Health Benefits of Massage
- Catch Some Sleep!
- Eat yourself Healthy