A major US health study has uncovered some startling side-effects of the economic recession: people who lose their jobs are at risk of losing their health as well.

A researcher at the Harvard School of Public Health who analysed detailed employment and health data from 8,125 individuals discovered that workers who lost a job through no fault of their own were twice as likely to report a new, serious ailment like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease over the next year and a half, compared to people who were continuously employed - even when they found new jobs quickly.

David R. Williams, a professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, said the study was a reminder of a truth that psychologists have known for some time: job loss and other life stressors have a serious impact on mental and physical health, and contribute to the development of chronic conditions.