Women, Occupation, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: A Review

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of mortality in women globally. While traditional risk factors (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia) are well-characterized, the role of occupational exposures—encompassing psychosocial stressors, physical demands, and environmental hazards—in shaping women's cardiovascular health is increasingly recognized but remains understudied. This review synthesizes evidence on the relationship between women's occupational characteristics and the development of key CVD risk factors. It examines how work-related psychosocial stress (high demands/low control, effort-reward imbalance, job strain), shift work, sedentary work, and occupational physical activity differentially impact women's risk for hypertension, metabolic syndrome, obesity, and unhealthy behaviors. The review highlights the complex interplay of occupation with gender-specific roles, including unpaid caregiving labor and the "double burden" of work and family responsibilities, which compound occupational stress. Emerging evidence points to significant disparities by socioeconomic position and race/ethnicity. The findings underscore the urgent need for gender-sensitive occupational health research, workplace interventions, and public policies that address the unique work-related pathways contributing to CVD risk in women.

Keywords: Women's health, cardiovascular disease, occupational stress, job strain, shift work, work-family conflict, psychosocial factors, gender disparities.

Received Date: October 20, 2025

Accepted Date: November 11, 2025

Published Date: December 01, 2025

Available Online at: https://www.ijsrisjournal.com/index.php/ojsfiles/article/view/533