High-flying women with demanding jobs are almost twice as likely to suffer a heart attack, research shows.

Those with highly stressful careers are more at risk from strokes, high blood pressure and cardiac arrest.

Women who say their role requires them to work 'very hard' with little opportunity to use their creative skills are 40 per cent more likely to develop heart disease or need surgery, American researchers found.

They are 88 per cent more likely to suffer a heart attack than those with more relaxed jobs - almost double the risk.

Traditionally doctors have always believed that men under pressure at work are far more likely to fall victim to heart disease.

But these latest findings from researchers at Harvard Medical school in Boston show women are just as vulnerable - particularly as they often face the added strain of juggling a family.

The study, which was presented to the American Heart Association's annualconference in Chicago, showed that high-flying women were 43 per cent more likely to need heart surgery.

The researchers looked at the records of more than 17,400 women in their 50s and 60s who all provided details on their work strains and job insecurity.

Those with highly stressful roles, who felt they did not have the chance to use their creative skills, were most at risk.

Women who were scared of losing their job were more likely to be overweight, have high blood pressure and raised cholesterol.

The researchers recommend high-flying women take certain precautions to try to protect their health.

These include regular exercise, trying not to bring your work home and having a close network of friends and family close by.

(Read by Renee Haines. Renee Haines is a journalist at the China Daily Web site.)

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(Agencies)