“Long working hours were also associated with incident coronary heart disease, but this association was weaker than that for stroke”.
Advertisement
When considering coronary heart disease, 25 studies were analysed involving 603,838 men and women from Europe, the USA, and Australia who were followed for an average of 8.5 years. However, researchers have now given us more reason to try to manage our work timings, according to a new study working for longer hours can pose a serious threat to your heart and brain and can increase the risk of getting a stroke.
“To my mind the most plausible explanation is chronic triggering of the stress response that comes with working long hours, pressure to perform and not enough time for family, loved ones and peaceful rest”.
Lead author for the work was Miki Kivimäki from the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London.
As per experts, working 49 to 54 hours led to increased chances of a stroke; the chances increased by 27%. It was a matter of concern that heart surgeons who worked some of the longest hours in the UK, with the average consultant spending 61.5 hours at their post each week, the longest of any medical professional.
Professor Dino Pisaniello of the University of Adelaide says physical inactivity for extended periods is an underlying risk factor for both stroke and coronary heart disease.
He said: “This research shows an association between long working hours and an increased risk of having a stroke and heart disease”.
Finally, Kivimaki concludes, “Our study is important because it shows, for the first time, that individuals who work long hours may be at an increased risk of stroke. Although we now have more detailed theories regarding the causal mechanisms, there is still some kinship between modern studies of work-related determinants of cardiovascular diseases and Osler’s broad approach to the cause of disease”. For instance, several studies had revealed that prolonged working hours may take their toll on a woman’s ability of conceiving.
“Essentially, if long working hours present a danger to health, it should be possible to change them, which is not always the case with other work environmental factors”, Janlert wrote in a commentary.
Advertisement
40 hours is maximum time, employees are supposed to work, to be safe.
