For farmers, managing high levels of stress is part of the job. From weather and market fluctuations to equipment malfunctions and animal health challenges, balancing it all can be tough.
A recent review published in the scientific journal Cureus collected data from 12 studies that looked at the relationship between cardiovascular disease and farmers. The researchers found that male farmers aged 45 and up have an increased risk of heart disease compared to their non-farming peers.
Tawnie Larson, a project consultant for the Kansas Agriculture Safety and Health program at Kansas State University, says women in rural areas are also at an increased risk for heart disease. In addition, living in rural communities often results in decreased access to health care, “or (farmers) do not see their doctor on a regular basis,” Larson adds in a K-State release.
According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 44% of women in the U.S. are living with some sort of heart disease -- for many of the same reasons that men suffer from heart disease.
“Blood pressure tends to rise in women earlier than men,” Larson says. “Early signs of hypertension for women include fatigue, sleeping issues, bloating, headaches and blurred vision or dizziness. Don’t write these symptoms off; talk to your doctor before you have a problem.”
She encourages men and women to check their blood pressure on a regular basis; if you can’t get by the doctor’s office regularly, take advantage of blood pressure machines often available at a local pharmacy or other location.
Other conditions that affect heart health include high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease, smoking, excessive use of alcohol, poor diet, obesity, limited cardiovascular activity and hearing loss.
“People, in general, may also ignore or downplay their susceptibility to heart disease and put off necessary actions to improve their wellness,” Larson says. “Poor heart health can lead to heart attack or stroke.”
Larson offers eight things farmers can do now to improve heart health:
• Make healthy choices, such as eating a healthy diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Make small changes. Set one goal per week, rather many changes at once.
• Reduce stress by focusing on what you can control.
• Find a favorite stress-reducing activity and do it regularly.
• Start a regular walking routine. Listen to music or a podcast.
• Read books.
• Spend time with family or friends.
• Take up an activity that gets your heart rate up, and gradually build to higher rates of activity.
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