Understanding the Link Between Stressful Jobs and Cancer

Woman Experiencin Stress

Cancer is a deadly disease and the second-highest cause of death in the United States, claiming over 605,000 lives in 2021. Annually, approximately 1.8 million people in the U.S. receive a cancer diagnosis, and the costs of cancer treatment total over $190 billion.

Early detection and management of cancer risks are crucial in the fight to beat cancer or avoid the disease altogether. Those working stressful jobs may wonder if there’s a link between high-stress jobs and cancer rates. Let’s look at the cancer and stress link and how a preventative cancer scan can help you manage your health.

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Does stress trigger cancer?

People live with constant mental tension when they’re stressed. While it’s common to associate stress with worrying or emotional distress, stress can also cause physical symptoms, such as the following:

Headaches
High blood pressure
Indigestion
Insomnia
Muscle pain
Panic attacks

Lack of sleep and constant tension can adversely affect your well-being. Your health can suffer because fatigue and tension weaken your immune system. When your immune system is weakened, you have a higher risk of aggravating or developing health issues. There’s a higher risk of developing cancer, including the following cancer types, if you suffer from prolonged stress:

Bladder
Colon
Colorectal
Esophagus
Lung
Non-hodgkin lymphoma
Rectal
Stomach

What jobs have the highest cancer risk?

People working in the following careers have a higher risk of getting cancer:

Construction workers
Farmers and agricultural workers
Firefighters
Lifeguards
Morticians and undertakers
Nail salon staff
Painters
Pilots
Rubber manufacturers

Desk jobs also increase your cancer risk because people in sedentary jobs have a higher risk of obesity and high blood pressure, which are health conditions that increase your cancer risk.

Environmental factors also increase the risks of some cancers in specific careers. For example, casino workers have a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. Exposure to toxic fumes and chemicals affects some professionals, including construction workers, morticians, and rubber manufacturers. Pilots and lifeguards have more exposure to sunlight and UV rays.

What are the most stressful jobs?

Some of the most stressful jobs include the following careers:

Compliance officers
Construction managers
Construction workers
Financial analysts
Firefighters
Lawyers
Mental health counselors
Paramedics
Patrol officers
Physicians, anesthesiologists, and surgeons
Sales managers
Security guards
Structural iron and steelworkers

Construction managers, construction workers, and firefighters all appear on the list of most stressful jobs and the list of careers with a higher cancer risk. Lawyers and mental health counselors, including social workers and marriage and family counselors, have sedentary careers and may share some risk factors affecting office workers.

Is a stressful job bad for your health?

Prolonged exposure to stress, including career-related stress, negatively impacts your health. People affected by chronic stress have higher cholesterol and increased instances of high blood pressure. High blood pressure and high cholesterol rates are risk factors for the following health issues:

Aneurysms
Cancer
Diabetes
Dementia
Heart attacks
Heart failure
Kidney damage
Metabolic syndrome
Strokes
Vision problems

You can reduce your risk of workplace stress-related health issues by managing your stress. Ways to manage stress include the following:

Eat healthy foods
Exercise
Improve your sleep habits
Meditate
Pursue your hobbies
Therapy
Take vacations

How a Preventative Medical Scan Can Help

Worrying about your health can compound your workplace stress, exacerbating your condition and affecting your quality of life. You can alleviate your concerns by scheduling a preventative medical scan near your home or workplace to get prompt answers about your health.

What is a preventative scan?

Preventative scans involve using a CT scan to get a look inside your body. Our CT scans can detect health concerns, such as plaque buildup in your arteries and tumors or masses in your organs. Preventative scans can also reveal degenerative conditions, such as arthritis.

What can I expect when I get a preventative scan?

You don’t have to worry about prolonged medical tests consuming your day when you book a preventative scan. The scanning time required is less than a minute, and your appointment takes 15 minutes or less.

How can I schedule a preventative scan?

Contact Preventative Diagnostic Center to schedule a preventative scan near your location. You don’t need a doctor’s referral to book an appointment or get your results; we have a staff doctor available to answer your questions when you get your preventative scan.

A preventative CT scan will give you peace of mind because you can detect health problems early, giving you the best chances of effective treatment and recovery. And if your scan shows you’re in good health, you’ll eliminate your health fears, which can help reduce your stress levels.