Many salary earners may be oblivious of this subject, but a new study has linked the income level of workers to their vulnerability of an increased risk of heart disease and death. While the majority of income earners expect an increase in their take-home pay at the beginning of every year, some start the year with depression when the needed increase is not forthcoming.
While it is often expected that a person's income will constantly rise until they reach retirement age, it was found that if Income levels are unstable, it can easily turn into a stressor, and the volatility of personal income could be having a more serious effect on people's heart health.
The research, published in the Journal Circulation, and reported on MedicalNewsToday, is most apt for Nigerians presently, while the new minimum wage debate is on the front burner and as a new year begins.
The results, found that substantial fluctuations in personal income were associated with a higher risk of death and cardiovascular diseases in the decade following this income change.
The study further noted the amazing finding, which indicated that young people are not exempted from the risk, as an ongoing study has been tracking the health of young people living in four cities around the United States for nearly 3 decades.
“The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study started in 1990. The four cities are Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, IL, Oakland, CA, and Birmingham, AL. Each participant was aged 23–35 years when the researchers first examined them”.
To arrive at their findings, the researchers analyzed data from the CARDIA study to see whether there was a link between income fluctuations and risk of cardiovascular events as well as death. They first studied income levels taken from five assessments in 1990–2005.
While they analysed income volatility and income drop or a decrease of 25 percent or more from the previous figure, thereafter they tracked the number of people who experienced cardiovascular events — both fatal and non-fatal — or died of any cause in 2005–2015.
They discovered that there were 106 cardiovascular events and 164 deaths. The team took into account factors such as pre-existing heart risk and socio demographic background.
The study found that the highest levels of income volatility were linked with almost double the risk of death and over double the risk of conditions such as strokes, heart failure, or heart attacks.
TAKEAWAY
The takeaway from this study is for employees to always be at their duty posts to deliver what is expected of them, while employers are to be mindful of the health conditions of their staff during salaries’ review.
