Study: Workplace stress as damaging as second-hand smoke

Most of us experience job stress at some point in our lives. But what impact does it have on our health?

According to new research, workplace stress is just as damaging as exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke.

Researchers say that stress at work - including the stress of working long hours, suffering from fatigue and having little control over your career - causes a 50 percent increased risk of developing some type of medical problem - which is equivalent to inhaling second hand smoke.

Experts say that if you cannot change careers, workers can reduce stress levels by changing how they deal with their work environment by doing things like meditating or picking up a hobby.