Executives prone to stress and diseases: Expert

JAKARTA (JP): Executives are prone to stress-related illnesses such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or liver disease due to job pressure, an expert said.

Sumakmur, a staff lecturer at University of Indonesia's School of Medicine, said that executives generally suffer from stress because of their high-pressure jobs.

Most executives, he said, work long hours and have to solve their personal conflicts. In addition, they travel frequently and do not get enough rest or vacations, he said.

"The condition makes most executives suffer from stress," Sumakmur told some 100 participants in a seminar yesterday.

The stress can develop into frustration if the executives are experiencing a late promotion, the lack of opportunity to progress or to develop themselves, and unclear responsibilities or authorities, he said.

Stress, he said, will cause lack of sleep, headaches, irritability or even impotence.

According to recent research involving 343 executives in the United States, 34 percent had sleeping difficulties, he said.

The one-day seminar, titled Health and Executives, was organized by Bisnis Indonesia daily newspaper and the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).

Among the speakers at the seminar, which was open by Minister of Health Sujudi, were Ali Sulaiman, the dean of the University of Indonesia's School of Medicine, IDI's chairman Azrul Azwar and Sadoso Sumarsardjuno, a medical specialist on sports.

Dadang Hawari, chairman of the Indonesian Psychiatrist Association, said that in addition to professional help, husbands or wives can play a role in healing stress.

"The executives' husbands or wives can help them wipe out the stress by listening, helping, caring and sharing," Dadang said.

Sumakmur also revealed that most of the wealthy executives are overweight.

Executives, he said, have to attend many invitations, such as lunch or dinner invitations, to maintain good relationships with their business partners.

"This condition made most of the executives over-nourished, overweight and prone to develop many diseases, especially coronary heart disease," Sumakmur said.

The executives' condition will get worse if they also smoke or drink alcohol, he added. (31)