Can a healthy work environment be good for your heart? Researchers are saying yes...and that the reverse is also true. Employees who perceive their leaders to be competent and fair have a lower risk of heart disease and cardiac events than those who dislike or don't respect their bosses. And this is regardless of individual risk factors, according to the results of a study published in the journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

The investigation included a group of over 3,100 Swedish male employees (average age, 42) and focused on the risk of heart disease in relation to managerial leadership. And while the researchers found that regardless of other risk factors, high-quality leadership was linked to lower risk of heart disease, they also determined that it just got better with time. A risk reduction of 24% was seen for employment of one year under perceived good leadership, which increased to 31% and 39% for three and four years, respectively.

On the flip side, risks of painful heart symptoms (angina), heart attack and death increased along with reported incompetence of bosses. And they determined even more risk with greater time served.

"This study suggests that interventions aimed at improving the psychosocial work environment and preventing ... heart disease among employees could focus on concrete managerial behaviors, such as the provision of clear work objectives, information and sufficient control in relation to responsibilities," the authors concluded.

While the exact link between having a bad boss and a broken heart is difficult determine, any situation where someone feels they are not in control....whether it be work, relationships, other things in general...can have a negative effect on cardiovascular health. If someone is angry or stressed out, the increase in stress hormone (like adrenaline and cortisol) can lead to increased blood pressure, among other things, that can have a negative impact on heart health. And if you are not sleeping well because you are feeling angry or frustrated, these faulty sleep patterns can also have negative impact on health.

A second study, this in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, suggests that medical leave of 7 days or more increases risk of dying early.

In this study, information was collected on over 19,000 French public utility workers (ages 37 to 51). Forty-one percent of them took medical leave of 7 or more working days which was subsequently linked to a 60 percent higher risk of early death. This link was particularly relevant in women, and for those who took medical leave for mental health issues. "The present study confirmed findings from previous studies that sickness absence is a risk marker for all-cause mortality," the authors concluded.

What the link is can sometimes hard to determine. But stress surrounding work is a big issue, because this is where we spend so much of our time, and our energy. And this is where stress management can come in.

Some tips for better managing work stress:

-Optimize communication
-Define clear cut goals that are realistic
-Ask for feedback to measure success