Stress is more than a mood. It’s a physical reaction that affects nearly every part of the body. Work-related stress contributes to chronic stress, increasing the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and depression.
Harvard Health explains that long-term exposure to stress hormones can “take a toll on the body,” damaging blood vessels, weakening the immune system, and disrupting brain chemistry linked to anxiety and fatigue.
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The latest report from Beauty and Bodywork Insurance (BBI) analyzed 250 professions against ten different stress variables. Top U.S. Jobs That Could Use a Massage identifies which professions face the greatest physical and mental strain in 2025.
Data for this report were sourced in June 2025 from the U.S. Department of Labor O*NET and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over 250 professions were evaluated, with at least 50,000 workers employed nationally, with a focus on “broad” and “minor” classifications, removing any duplicate or “miscellaneous”-titled occupations. In cases where job categories didn’t perfectly align between BLS and O*NET, we used the official crosswalk tools from O*NET and the BLS to match the closest equivalent roles.
The findings reveal just how deeply work-related stress can affect health, and how strategic recovery methods like massage can restore balance.
Jobs with the Highest Physical Stress
- Firefighters
- Flight Attendants
- Laborers and Material Movers
- Line Installers and Repairers
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Specialists
Firefighters top the list for work-related physical stress, carrying heavy gear and working in intense, high-risk environments that take a long-term toll on their muscles and joints.
Jobs with the Highest Mental Stress
- Flight Attendants
- Small Engine Mechanics
- Physician Assistants
- Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
- Bailiffs, Jailers, and Correctional Officers
Flight attendants rank first for work-related mental stress and second for physical stress, making them unique among all professions studied. The role demands constant emotional regulation, conflict resolution, and focus on safety while managing unpredictable schedules and fatigue.
How Stress Impacts the Body
The CDC explains that chronic stress keeps the body in a state of “fight or flight,” leading to fatigue, muscle pain, poor digestion, and weakened immunity. The Cleveland Clinic adds that prolonged tension contributes to inflammation, heart disease, and sleep disruption.
To combat these effects, BBI recommends massage therapy as a practical way to reduce both physical and emotional stress. Massage has been shown to lower cortisol levels, improve circulation, and activate the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body transition from a heightened state of alert to one of recovery.
“For physically stressed clients, we often use targeted techniques like deep tissue, myofascial release, or assisted stretching to break up adhesions and restore mobility,” says Brooke Riley, LMT and Corporate Training Specialist at Heights Wellness Retreat.
Riley explains, “For those under heavy mental or emotional stress, we may incorporate slower, rhythmic strokes, guided breathwork, and calming touch to help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, essentially teaching their body how to ‘shift out of fight-or-flight.’”
Massage therapy offers immediate relief for work-related stress and long-term protective benefits by restoring flexibility, releasing muscular tension, and helping the nervous system recalibrate.
Protecting Health Before Burnout
As Riley explains, “Massage isn’t just about fixing pain; it’s about maintaining balance and preventing bigger problems down the road.” Combining regular massage with deep breathing, stretching, and mindful breaks throughout the day helps reduce the cumulative wear of chronic stress.
When stress becomes a regular part of work life, it reshapes how the body functions. Addressing work-related stress early through movement, rest, and consistent recovery practices can mean the difference between thriving and burning out.
Managing work-related stress isn’t a luxury; it’s a health investment. And according to both experts and research, massage remains one of the most effective ways to start.
Chronic Stress
Research suggests that the levels of work-related stress are continuing to increase across the nation. Stress can have significant effects on both the body and mind. Chronic stress affects both the body and mind by causing a state of heightened arousal that can disrupt nearly all of the body’s processes. While short-term stress can be a healthy motivator, long-term exposure to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can lead to serious health problems.
Physical Effects
- Cardiovascular system: Stress causes your heart rate to increase and blood vessels to constrict, elevating blood pressure. Chronic stress is a risk factor for high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
- Musculoskeletal system: Muscles tense up to protect the body from injury. This can lead to persistent muscle tension, soreness, and pain in the head, neck, shoulders, and jaw, as well as contributing to tension headaches and migraines.
- Digestive system: Stress can disrupt the communication between the gut and the brain, leading to digestive issues. Common problems include diarrhea, constipation, nausea, pain, and gas. It can also exacerbate conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
- Immune system: Prolonged stress weakens the immune system by suppressing the body’s immune response. This can make you more susceptible to infections and illnesses and slow down the healing process.
- Reproductive system: Chronic stress can disrupt the reproductive system in both men and women. In women, it can lead to irregular or missed menstrual cycles. In men, it can cause a decline in sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
- Endocrine system: The body’s stress response is controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Chronic stress overexposes the body to cortisol, which can lead to metabolic issues, including weight gain or loss.
- Skin and hair: Stress can trigger skin conditions such as hives, eczema, and psoriasis. It can also cause hair loss and excessive sweating.
Effects on the Mind
- Brain structure: Chronic stress can cause measurable changes in the brain. High cortisol levels can shrink the prefrontal cortex (responsible for memory and learning) and increase the size of the amygdala (the brain’s fear center), making the brain more receptive to stress.
- Mood and emotional health: Stress can trigger a range of emotional issues, including burnout, anxiety, depression, irritability, and feelings of being overwhelmed. It can worsen symptoms for people with pre-existing mental health disorders.
- Cognitive function: Work-related stress can impair cognitive abilities, making it difficult to concentrate, make decisions, or remember things. This can feel like a mental “fog” that affects job performance and daily tasks.
- Sleep problems: Being in a constant state of “fight-or-flight” can make it difficult to relax and sleep. This often leads to insomnia, which creates a vicious cycle of further mental and physical strain.
- Behavioral changes: Many people develop unhealthy coping mechanisms under stress, such as overeating, using alcohol or drugs, smoking, or withdrawing socially. These behaviors can compound the negative health effects.
- Worsened symptoms of other conditions: Stress can exacerbate the symptoms of various other mental and neurological conditions, such as PTSD and migraines
Long-Term Effects
Chronic stress can lead to more severe and lasting effects, including:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Gastrointestinal problems (e.g., ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome)
- Weakened immune system
- Brain damage
- Increased risk of suicide
It’s important to note that the effects of stress can vary depending on the individual, the severity of the stressor, and the duration of stress exposure. If you are experiencing significant stress, it’s essential to seek professional help to manage it effectively and prevent potential health consequences.
Keep Stress Levels In Check
To deal with the effects of work-related stress, practice stress-reduction techniques like exercise, meditation, and deep breathing, and establish healthy work-life boundaries. It is also helpful to organize your workload, take regular breaks, and seek support from colleagues, friends, or a professional.
Strategies to Manage Work-Related Stress
Practice Stress-Reduction Techniques
- Incorporate physical activity like walking, swimming, or yoga to help release endorphins and reduce stress hormones.
- Try mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing exercises to help stay centered and calm and relieve some of the work-related stress.
- Listen to music during breaks or while working, when possible, to help create a more comfortable environment and unwind from work-related stress.
Improve Work Organization and Boundaries
- Set clear boundaries: Define your work hours and unplug from work during personal time to avoid being available 24/7.
- Take breaks: Schedule short breaks throughout the day to step away from your desk, move around, and rest your mind.
- Stay organized: Prioritize tasks and break large projects into smaller, more manageable steps to reduce feelings of work-related stress and being overwhelmed.
Prioritize Your Well-Being
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Eat nutritious food, limit caffeine and sugar, and get enough sleep to better manage work-related stress.
- Nurture your personal life: Focus on interests and relationships outside of work to help maintain a clear separation and avoid burnout.
Seek Support
- Talk to your supervisor: Discuss workload or specific tasks that are causing stress to find potential solutions to work-related stress.
- Connect with others: Talk to trusted friends, family, or coworkers for support and advice.
- Use workplace resources: Check if your company has an employee assistance program (EAP) or other internal support systems to help reduce work-related stress.
- Consider professional help: If stress is overwhelming, consider talking to a therapist or other mental health professional to develop coping strategies.
When Stress Is Too Much
If the stress you are experiencing becomes too overwhelming, whether it be work-related stress or stress from home, please consider seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor, or perhaps contacting a crisis line:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call or text 988 (available 24/7)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME or HOLA to 741741 (available 24/7)
- Veterans Crisis Line: Text 838255 or call 988 and press 1 (available 24/7)
- Trevor Lifeline: Text START to 678-678 or call 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7; for LGBTQIA+ young people under 25)
- The LGBT National Hotline: Multiple hotlines for different groups (hours vary; check website)
This article was created at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Ryan, who is a digital media specialist, on behalf of Beauty and Bodywork Insurance, which provides specialized insurance and resources for massage and bodywork professionals. By combining risk insights with practical guidance, BBI helps practitioners support worker wellness across high-stress occupations.
As with anything you read on the internet, this article on work-related stress should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article on work-related stress is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
