Abstract :
Background: Stress is ubiquitous in life. Stress when crosses the limits of sanity, can adversely alter a person’s well being. Work related stress has been known to cause many ill-effects on the body. Stress can be observed in all fields of work big or small.
Objectives: The present study was carried out to assess stress levels among working middle-aged males through a questionnaire based analysis and to study the effects of work related/organizational stress exclusively on blood cells.
Methods: Sixty male employees of a Co-operative Bank of a city in South Karnataka, India (35–60 years) were included in the study. Based on the analysis of their job stress levels using a validated self administered Likert Scale questionnaire on work stress, study group was divided into Non-stressed and Stressed. Their Red Blood Cells (RBC), White Blood Cells (WBC), Platelets, Differential Leucocyte counts and Hemoglobin levels were estimated. These parameters were analyzed statistically.
Results: The present study showed a significant fall in the lymphocyte count in the stressed individuals while there being a significant rise in the eosinophil and monocyte count. The total leukocyte count, platelet count and hemoglobin levels showed a fall, but were statistically insignificant.
Conclusions: Stressful conditions can lead to various endocrine derangements. The changes in hormone levels, mainly corticosteroids lead to alterations in blood cell count. These alterations will cause a fall in immunity with increased occurrence of infections.
Keyword :
Bank employees, Blood cells, Stress, Corticosteroids, Immunity