Work Woes: Long hours increases the risk of stroke
A new study has just established a connection between long working hours and the risk of stroke.
Are you accustomed to working long hours? If you have heard a lot about the increasing incidence of burnout in recent times, a new study published in the journal The Lancet has highlighted another danger of extending work days for our health. Indeed, working more than 40 hours would (significantly) increase the risk of cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
A risk of stroke should not be neglected
Over forty researchers from different countries have tackled a massive database to learn more about the impact of time spent working on the state of the cardiovascular system. They collated the results of 603 838 men and women to determine coronary risk, and those of 528 908 people to assess the frequency of stroke versus time spent in the office during the week. They were able to see that cardiovascular problems increased at the same time that the number of working hours did. Particularly true are results with regards to the risk of stroke. These climb of 10% for weeks of 41 to 48 hours, 27% for weeks of 49 to 54 hours and finally 33% for weeks with over 55 work hours! For researchers, stress is probably behind these figures, as the lifestyle of these ‘madmen’ of the job that are more sedentary, smoke more and drink more than average. Now whoever said that “work is health”?
Source : Long working hours and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: a systematic review and meta-analysis of published and unpublished data for 603 838 individuals, The Lancet, 19 août 2015.
Maureent Diament
