BBC Learning English

Words in the News

Working could kill us
17 September 2012
A large European study has shown that having a highly demanding job, but little control
over it, could be a deadly combination. A report published in the Lancet medical journal
showed a link between a stressful workplace and an increased risk of a heart attack.
James Gallagher reports for the BBC:

Too much work, too little time and no freedom to make decisions can lead to a form of
stress known as job strain. It can appear in any profession, but is more common in
lower skilled jobs which can combine tough workloads and little responsibility.

The analysis looked at data from nearly two hundred thousand people in thirteen
European countries. It found that those in high strain jobs were twenty three per cent
more likely to have had a heart attack or to have died from coronary heart disease.
However, smoking, not exercising or having an unhealthy diet all have a much greater
impact on the heart.

Agencies, such as the British Heart Foundation, said stress at work was often
unavoidable, but people in high stress jobs could target risks to their heart in other
areas of their lives.

Words in the News

bbclearningenglish.com

British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

Page 1 of 2

Vocabulary and definitions

freedom

power or right to act

profession

paid occupation

workloads

amounts of work expected to be done

the analysis

the research or study

coronary heart disease

the narrowing or blockage of the arteries and vessels

that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart

impact

effect

unavoidable

cannot be prevented

target

concentrate on

Read and listen to the story and the vocabulary online:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2012/09/120917_witn_work_stress.shtml
Read more about this story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19584526

Words in the News

British Broadcasting Corporation 2012

Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com