Long Hours at Work can Lead to Greater Instances of Heart Disease

This week, a meta-analysis of research found that people who work more than eight hours a day have a significantly higher risk of heart disease. Dr. Marianna Virtanen, lead investigator of the research, said the effects could be due to “prolonged exposure to stress.” Poor eating habits and lack of exercise could also be key factors. With these recent findings, it's crucial for workers to focus on what it takes to be healthy.

This analysis, which combined studies from the past 50 years, discovered that people who routinely worked long hours had more incidents of high blood pressure. Though results varied, study participants who had their work habits monitored by researchers had a 40 percent increase in the risk of heart disease compared to adults who worked only eight hours each day.

Long hours put in at work can lead to an increase in cortisol, the stress hormone. Additionally, an increase in cortisol may lead to bad eating and exercise habits. When we work more, we have less leisure time to take a walk or go to the gym. We also have less time to plan and shop for healthy meals. Since consistent exercise lowers cortisol, many workers are stuck in a vicious cycle. We could choose to work less for our own health. However, with the economy in a downward spiral, many workers believe longer hours show the management team a sense of determination and work ethic. But, at what cost? Virtanen and her colleagues found that middle-aged workers clocking 55 hours per week had much poorer brain function than those who worked a standard 40-hour week. Overtime workers scored lower on tests measuring intelligence, short-term memory and word recall. We think we are working diligently and efficiently, but in reality our brains are functioning at a lower capacity than our forty-hours-a-week peers.

If you are someone who routinely works long hours, it is time to take control of your health and well-being. Since it’s unlikely that the demands of your job will decrease, it’s imperative that you have built-in breaks in your day. A brisk walk around the perimeter of your building or a jog up the stairs may be enough to get your blood flowing. Stepping away from your computer to rest your eyes and enjoy your lunch may make the difference in your health. If you find that you're too tired to exercise when you arrive home at night, you might want to try exercising in the morning before work or on your lunch break. If you have a hard time eating healthy during the week, you should plan ahead. Make large quantities of healthy food on a Sunday, for example. Though your work may be important to you, your health is of utmost importance. By staying healthy and happy, your work-life balance will improve.

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