1) Have you been affected by retrenchments?
Studies show that surviving retrenchment actually doubles the risk of death due to cardiovascular disease. "Often individuals who are left behind feel uncertainty and have double the workload," says Pamela Holland, co-author of Help! Was That a Career Limiting Move? Speak to your boss about where you fit in now - and make sure that you're key to the new business plan.
2) Do you ever work night shift?
A study has found that working night shift, even sporadically, increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 35 percent - possibly due to a decrease in the production of melatonin. Adding a synthetic melatonin supplement to your diet may decrease this risk. Another plus: a Dutch study found that men taking 2.5mg of melatonin an hour before bed lowered their blood pressure.
3) What do you think of your boss?
Guys who respect their bosses have lower blood pressures than those who don't, research shows. Plus, the anger you are storing could cause migraines. Instead of focusing on what an idiot your boss is, think of one positive quality he has - even if it's just good taste in ties. And seek out more interaction so you can develop a better understanding of him.
4) Do you mix your work and personal lives?
Office loners have higher ambulatory bloodpressure levels than those of their more social mates. Scientists think this may be because men need more social support at their place of work, because they may not have similar friendships outside the office. Accept every invitation that comes your way, Holland says: you'll make friends and probably some key contacts.
5) Do you supervise anyone?
It may be stressful, but research shows that those who call more shots have a 57 percent lower risk of dying young (from any cause) than those who must follow orders. In addition, a survey revealed that people who were self-employed consider work to be good for their health. So there's more to climbing the career ladder than simply scoring parking in the building.
6) How likely are you to sweat on the job?
Men with high-paying white-collar jobs have a signifi cantly increased risk of malignant melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer that can spread to the vital organs, compared to men who do low-paying blue-collar manual labour. Researchers are unsure of the reason, so regardless of where you work, schedule an annual full-body skin check.
7) What do you work with?
After analysing mortality rates, University of California researchers found that some of the industries with the highest risk of suicide were repair services and retail, with mortality rates of up to four times higher than people who work in finance, insurance or real estate. Overall, farmers had a lower risk than anyone.
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