Work-related stress – especially high job strain and effort-reward imbalance, significantly spikes the risk of developing atrial fibrillation or AFib - a common heart condition that causes the heart's upper chambers to beat rapidly and irregularly, a new study has claimed.

According to experts, AFib, is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heart rhythm, that can cause the heart to beat much faster than normal, often 140 beats per minute or more – leading to heart failure and stroke. A normal resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 100 beats per minute. A-fib can start as short periods of abnormal beating that become longer or continuous over time.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, included nearly 6,000 white-collar workers in Canada and found that those experiencing both high job strain and effort-reward imbalance faced 97 per cent increased risk of AFib compared to those not exposed to these stressors.

Noted senior author Xavier Trudel from Laval University in Quebec said even though previous studies have linked work-related stress with coronary heart disease, this is the first to examine its impact on AFib.

The study says job strain - characterized by demanding workloads and low control over work decisions leads to more than 83 per cent higher risk of AFib.

According to statistics, in 2019, it was estimated that 59,671,814 people across the world had AFib - more than double the 28,273,978 cases in 1990. The prevalence of AF has increased globally, with a 1.1-fold increase in incidence and a 1.4-fold increase in deaths between 1990 and 2019.

Job strain refers to a work environment in which employees face high job demands, such as a heavy workload tight deadlines, and low control over their work with little say in decision-making and how they execute their tasks. It causes high anxiety levels which leads to AFib in the long run. Researchers said another factor assessed was the effort-reward imbalance, which occurs when employees invest significant effort into their work but perceive the rewards they get in return like salary, recognition, or job security.

Trudel also emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing psychosocial stressors in the workplace to foster healthier environments that could help prevent AFib.

According to doctors, some types of arrhythmias are harmless and do not require treatment. However, others can put you at risk for cardiac arrest. Many are in between these two extremes. The warning signs include:

• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Fainting episodes
• Breathlessness
• Chest discomfort
• Weakness or fatigue

A cardiac arrhythmia may be silent and not cause any symptoms.

Apart from job-related stress, other risk factors for arrhythmia include:

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