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Attention Nurses: Keep An Eye On Your Heart

What do female social workers, nurses, health aides, and retail cashiers all have in common? According to new research, they probably have poorer heart health than women working in other jobs.

In a study involving more than 65,000 postmenopausal women, researchers found that women working in the above jobs were more likely to experience poor heart health.

Specifically, the researchers — who adjusted for age, race, marital status and education —  found that female social workers were 36 percent more likely to have heart problems, while female retail cashiers were 33 percent more likely. Meanwhile, female psychiatric health care providers, female home health aides, and female nurses were each 16 percent more likely to suffer from poor heart health. Female registered nurses (RNs) also had a 14 percent greater risk of the same, according to a news release from the American Heart Association.

Comparatively, female real estate brokers and sales agents, were 24 percent less likely to suffer from poor heart health, while female administrative assistants were 11 percent less likely.

New research shows female social workers, nurses, health aides, and retail cashiers are more likely to have poor heart health compared to women working in other jobs.

“Several of the professions that had a high risk of poor cardiovascular health were health care providers, such as nurses and home health aides. This is surprising because these women are likely more knowledgeable about cardiovascular health risk factors,” said study author Bede Nriagu, M.B.B.S., M.P.H., a research fellow in epidemiology and biostatistics at the Dornsife School of Public Health at Drexel University.