If your job is stressing you out, your health could be in danger. Stress at work is an important risk factor for a slew of ailments and afflictions, ranging from insomnia to sudden cardiac death.
    Job stress has been linked to the development of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. According to the results of a 14-year study published in the British Medical Journal, individuals with the greatest exposure to work-related stress have the highest risk of developing these chronic conditions.

For folks who have already suffered a heart attack, too much stress at work may increase the chances of experiencing a second or even a third heart attack. The results of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggest that men and women who survive one heart attack and then return to stressful jobs have more than double the risk of suffering another attack or dying from cardiovascular disease.
    Experts agree that high-stress jobs are those that place tough performance demands on workers but offer limited opportunity for decision-making, personal development or professional advancement. Lack of emotional support, encouragement or recognition from bosses and co-workers can add to job-related stress.
    If quitting your high-stress job isn't an option, making your work environment more enjoyable may be your best bet. The results of a study conducted by researchers at Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y., suggest that humor is an excellent means of coping with on-the-job stress.
    According to lead researcher Melissa Wanzer, "When we studied the effects of humor in the workplace in both corporate environments and healthcare settings, we found that it's very useful in helping people cope with work-related stress. Regular humor use doesn't just increase job satisfaction; it also increases overall life satisfaction."
    Wanzer's research showed that when employees viewed their bosses as being humor-oriented, they considered them to be more effective managers. Employees reported higher job satisfaction when they worked for managers who used humor effectively and appropriately.
    For many folks, the definition of "appropriate" humor isn't always apparent. Inappropriate humor, on the other hand, is far easier to recognize.
    "When it comes to humor, some issues, including race, religion, sexual orientation and gender, are clearly off limits," Wanzer noted. "People may consider humor inappropriate when it targets individuals or groups they either associate with or like."
    When in doubt, it's almost always safe to make fun of yourself. Wanzer said that self-disparaging humor can be very effective, as long as it isn't used excessively.
    Although some bosses tend to frown on any form of workplace fun or humor, on-the-job joking can have a positive impact on business and the bottom line. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia revealed that occasional humor among co-workers tends to enhance creativity, strengthen departmental cohesiveness, and boost overall productivity and performance.
    Although researchers have only recently begun to explore the benefits of workplace humor, there's a great deal of scientific evidence to support the notion that humor can improve an individual's emotional and physical well being. When researchers at the University of Maryland Medical Center analyzed the effects of humor on the cardiovascular health of adult volunteers, they found that laughter helps expand the blood vessels and increase blood flow to the heart. When the same volunteers experienced emotional stress, their blood vessels constricted, causing a reduction in blood flow to the heart. Overall, average blood flow increased 22 percent during bouts of laughter and fell 35 percent during periods of mental stress.
    Stress is known to weaken the immune system, leaving folks more susceptible to illness and infection. Exposure to humor, on the other hand, has the opposite effect.
    Laughter has been shown to increase the body's production of disease-fighting immunoglobulins and natural killer cells. It can also offset the damaging effects of stress-related hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.
    If you're looking for a quick and easy way to improve your health and make your job more fun and less stressful, adding a hefty dose of humor and a few hearty laughs to your daily routine is a good place to start. You don't have to be a stand-up comedian to make good use of humor, whether you're at work or elsewhere.
    "Telling jokes is just one small part of humor communication," Wanzer said. "Even mediocre humor is effective -- it's the effort that's appreciated."

      Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is http://www.rallieonhealth.com.