Asian-Americans At Higher Risk Of Heart Attacks Due To Unemployment: Study

Did you know that a lack of a job or losing one can give you a heart attack? Unemployment is indeed a cause of worry across the globe and is tragic. According to research published by the American Heart Association, unfavourable situations like losing a job can leave one shaken up– true, but can also increase the chances of a heart attack.

The American Heart Association claimed that unemployment, not having health insurance and deprivation of higher education are some factors that can increase the risk of a stroke or heart attack, especially in the Asian subpopulations.

Dr Eugene Yang is a cardiologist and clinical professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. According to him, studies have indicated that Asian-American groups have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk in comparison to other racial and ethnic groups.

The research examined 6,395 responses of adults residing in the United States of America, who identified themselves as Asian in the National Health Interview Survey from 2013 to 2018. Out of them, 22 per cent identified themselves as Filipino adults, 22 per cent as Asian Indian, 21 per cent as Chinese and 36 per cent as others including Vietnamese, Japanese and Koreans. It analysed various variables out of which the six main factors are- economic stability (including employment and income status), neighbourhood trust, measures of community and psychological distress, food security, education and healthcare utilisation.

The overall results showed that 14 per cent of the respondents would face high blood pressure, 17 per cent would have an unhealthy sleep pattern and 24 per cent would have a chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

When the study is broken down into demographic subgroups, it was found that in Chinese adults, 45 per cent were likely to have type 2 diabetes. Filipinos had a 28 per cent risk of high blood pressure. There was a 42 per cent likelihood of Asian adults to get sufficient physical activity. These factors also increased 20 per cent chances of suboptimal sleep in Asian Indians. There were 56 and 50 per cent respectively, a chance of nicotine exposure among Chinese and Filipino.