Job Stress, How Fatty Acids are Metabolised in the Body, and Associated Heart Disease Risk

No Author

Medical News Today

May 19, 2013

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/260658.php

Summary:

It is widely known in the medical world that higher job stress is linked to a higher risk of heart disease. This has widely been thought to be a result of the sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and a poor diet that stress can cause. However, Spanish researchers have found a different explanation. People who report that they are stressed about their job have a higher risk of suffering from dyslipidemia. This condition affects lipoproteins, proteins that transport lipids and fats in the blood stream. It is characterized by an increase in LDL cholesterol, “bad cholesterol” which contributes to plaque formation, and a decrease in HDL cholesterol, “good cholesterol” which helps prevent heart disease. The combination of these factors can lead to heart disease.

Connection:

This relates to our units on the digestive and circulatory systems. Lipids are a macromolecule that is ingested, digested, and absorbed in the small intestine where they enter into the lymphatic system and are carried to the bloodstream to be delivered to cells to make membranes or serve as an energy reserve. We discussed heart disease and plaque during the circulatory system unit. When plaque builds up on artery walls, it can cause a partial or complete blockage, leading to heart attacks and other heart conditions.