Part of a series on stress.

What if we could slow down the leading cause of death in the United States with just a few words of gratitude? Conducted by researchers at the University of Konstanz, public health, high workplace esteem is independently and significantly associated with lower cardiovascular heart disease. 103 male participants reported feelings of gratitude, social support, and self-esteem at work, and their risk of heart disease was assessed using a variety of blood tests. High ratings at work were associated with lower overall risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. Increasing gratitude in the workplace may help reduce the onset and progression of cardiovascular disease.

Heart disease and stress in the United States

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most races and ethnicities in the United States. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease, affecting approximately 1 in 20 adults over the age of 20. Approximately 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack each year. Heart disease costs the United States approximately $239.9 billion each year, including lost productivity due to medical services, medications, and deaths. Current treatments include lifestyle changes such as eating a healthier diet, increasing physical activity, and managing stress. Treatment plans often include medications to dilate blood vessels and manage cholesterol levels.

Work-related stress is prevalent in the United States, with 83% of American workers suffering from work-related stress and more than 25% saying work is the biggest stressor in their lives. Approximately 1 million Americans miss work every day due to stress, costing businesses $51 billion a year and an additional $26 billion in medical bills. The main causes of workplace stress are workload (39%), interpersonal problems (31%), balancing work and personal life (19%), and job security (9%). Ensuring that employees feel appreciated and valued at work will significantly reduce the suffering of many Americans from both heart disease and work-related stress.

blessings of gratitude

Feeling valued and appreciated by others has many positive effects. It is related to the basic human motivation to get along with and belong to a social group. It also acts as a reward element on the job, offsetting the amount of stress on the job. Gratitude increases self-esteem, alleviates stress experiences, and conveys compassion, respect, empathy, and understanding.

The evidence for the impact of gratitude on health and well-being tends to overlap with many concepts and measures. High job esteem is associated with higher feelings of well-being, calmness, enthusiasm and contentment, job satisfaction, lower feelings of resentment, and better psychological functioning. It is also associated with improved levels of subjective well-being, reduced risk of depressive symptoms, anxiety, mental fatigue, back pain, sickness absence, and early retirement. It is clear that gratitude has many benefits. Still, the clear impact of gratitude on heart health remained unclear until a recent study conducted at the University of Konstanz.

Measuring the impact of gratitude on heart health

The study, which measured the impact of gratitude on heart health, included 103 male participants, 25 participants with a diagnosis of coronary heart disease, and 40 participants with hypertension (who were not taking medication at the time of study entry). (32 participants who did not wear a mask, 8 participants who were taking medication), 32 participants who had normal blood pressure, and 6 participants who wore a mask. High blood pressure. Participants took their blood pressure measurements at home on six separate occasions, and trained personnel took three additional measurements.

Psychological measurements and blood samples were collected at the laboratory. Gratitude at work was measured with his 10-item Bern Gratitude Scale, which asks participants to rate the extent to which they feel appreciated by their supervisors and colleagues. Social support was assessed by his 8-item subscale of the Berlin Social Support Scale. Participants rated their agreement with statements such as, “I have people to ask for help when I need it.” Rosenberg’s 10-item self-esteem scale measured overall self-esteem by having participants rate their positive and negative feelings about themselves. Finally, the amount of tension caused by a lack of appreciation at work was measured using the Workplace Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire.

The risk of coronary heart disease is determined by measuring blood pressure, the diabetes marker HbA1c, blood lipids TC and HDL-C, clotting activity regarding the prothrombotic factors D-dimer and fibrinogen, and the pro-inflammatory indicators IL-6, TNF. It was evaluated. -α, CRP.

research result

Statistical multivariate analysis of covariance reveals that workplace gratitude is significantly associated with risk of coronary heart disease, both with and without controlling for drug intake, age, BMI, and smoking. It became clear that there was. A high reputation at work is associated with lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol, but not with his HbA1c, a diabetes marker, or with clotting or inflammation indicators. The study authors concluded that, taken together, “gratitude may not only buffer the effects of stress with its associated increased cardiovascular risk, but also positively contribute to improved cardiovascular health.” concludes.

Practical examples of gratitude in the workplace

Professor and author Gary Yukle provides practical examples of how to provide true appreciation in the workplace. 1. Recognize various contributions and accomplishments; 2. Actively seek out contributions that deserve recognition; 3. Recognize improved performance; 4. Recognize commendable efforts; and 5. . Don’t limit awards to high-profile work; 6. Don’t limit awards to a small number of high-achieving athletes; 7. Give specific awards; 8. Give awards in a timely manner; 9. Provide appropriate forms of recognition.

As we face staggering statistics of heart disease and workplace stress in the United States, the concept of gratitude is emerging not only as a cure but also as a proactive measure to protect both employee health and organizational success. .