A recent Canadian study documented higher blood pressure in workers with high job strain and low levels of co-worker support. High job strain is defined as work that is high in mental and emotional demand, with little independence or feeling of authority in decision making.

Researchers followed nearly 7,000 workers for 7.5 years. More men than women had high blood pressure associated with job strain, and those that did not feel encouraged or supported by their bosses or fellow workers were particularly stressed. The authors emphasize that job strain could be lessened if employers loosened up the methods of achieving results, allowing employees to be more independent in choosing how they attained success. In addition, deadline pressure need be lessened and stimulating opportunities for employee growth could counter-balance job stress.

A University of Louisville doctoral student, Mesia Moore Steed, is devoting her career to researching a little-known toxic amino acid named homocysteine. She calls it "the cholesterol of the 21st century."

You may have normal cholesterol levels, but you could still have high levels of homocysteine -- which is just as damaging to the heart and blood vessels. Homocysteine levels are influenced by diet and genetics. Folic acid and B vitamins, found in leafy green vegetables and fortified grain products, help break down homocysteine levels in the body.

Steed was recently the sole recipient of the American Physiology Society K-12 Minority Outreach fellowship. Her experiments feeding lab mice a homocysteine diet made up of animal proteins are aimed at discovering the exact changes that occur in the aorta and other blood vessels. "If we can control homocysteine, it won't cut out heart disease but it will modify risk," Steed said. "For me, being on the research side will hopefully lead to better treatment."