Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and Work

It is believed that a subarachnoid hemorrhage is caused when a latently developed cerebral aneurysm ruptures; but labor and other physical stresses have little to do with its onset. A cerebral aneurysm is a lesion of a cerebral vessel and sclerosis of a cerebral artery is undoubtedly involved in the rupture, which is the final stage of an aneurysm. In preparing new criteria for approval of reimbursement by workers' compensation insurance, we searched the literature in diverse fields, not only in this country but also overseas, and found that various elements are risk factors in the development of arteriosclerosis. Not only hyper- tension, but almost all diseases that are regarded to be caused by one's lifestyle are considered to be risk factors. In view of this situation, it is evident by extension that overwork exerts ill effects on lifestyle-related diseases, thus exacerbating the symptoms of these diseases, exaggerating the sclerotic process in the cerebral arteries, and finally resulting in the development of a subarachnoid hemorrhage.