Resting Blood Pressure of Workers in High Stress Urban Occupations

Background: First responders (firefighters, paramedics, and police) working in an urban setting can be exposed to a high-stress environment caused by strenuous physical exertion, potentially dangerous work conditions, sleep deprivation due to shift work, poor dietary habits, psychological stress and noise levels that are excessive. This may induce chronic increases in blood pressure. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of hypertension in people working in occupations generally accepted as high stress in comparison to those working in an environment where less of these obvious high stressors were present. Methods: Resting blood pressure was measured by TrUBP in 1067 on-duty first responders (fire, paramedic, and police), and in participants generally associated with a lower-stress work environment (transit workers, city and bank employees, factory workers and legislature employees). Results: The average age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower in those employees working in a high-stress environment than those in a low-stress job. This difference was observed in both male and female sexes. Conclusions: Our data do not support an association of high resting blood pressure values in those employed in activities typically associated with a high-stress urban working environment.