Monday, January 17, 2022

Working Your Heart Out

It’s not just poor diet and lack of exercise that can put your ticker at risk. Excessive overtime can also have a negative effect on your circulatory system.

Guide Magazine

The World Health Organization and International Labour Organization estimate that 1 in 25 deaths from coronary heart disease and 1 in 14 deaths from strokes can be attributed to people regularly working over 55 hours per week. Plus, a significant proportion of lost time is also due to overtime-induced heart and stroke issues.

And the danger is felt globally: nearly 10 percent of the world’s population is considered overworked.

Why the long hours? For some it’s due to a company culture. Others are simply workaholics while some are just trying to make ends meet.

4 Ways Long Work Hours Negatively Impact Longevity

1. Chronic stress places strain on your arteries and can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
2. Long work hours mean employees have less time and energy to devote to heart-healthy activities such as exercise and meditation.
3. Those working long hours are often short on sleep and more likely to eat unhealthy convenience foods.
4. People working long hours are more likely to partake in harmful habits such as smoking or excessive drinking.

4 Ways to Protect Workers against Excessive Overtime

1. Managers need to model a healthy work-life balance and avoid creating a culture of constant overtime.
2. Companies need to pay fair wages so that workers can survive without having to work two or three jobs, or constant overtime.
3. Unions can negotiate work-hour limitations and other ways to improve work-life balance into collective agreements.
4. Governments can set limits on work hours. The European Union, for example, has set a limit of 48 hours of work per week, per worker.

4 Ways to Take Care of Your Health

1. Take mental health breaks. Anxiety, posttraumatic stress injury, and other mental health issues can have a negative impact on your heart health.
2. Go for a walk. Being among trees has been found to have a positive impact on heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension.
3. Say no to overtime when possible. Is it worth it?
4. Say yes to coffee. Long term coffee drinkers have a lower risk of heart disease, and the effect is even greater in women. Just make sure you use sugar in moderation.

“There is pressure for people to work long hours because people derive their identity from that. . . . People need to be mindful it is actually not cool [to work late] because you might die from a heart attack at 65 if you keep up this lifestyle.” —Lieke ten Brummelhuis, associate professor of management and organization studies, Beedie School of Business, Simon Fraser University

Coronary Heart Disease

Develops when the major blood vessels that supply your heart become damaged. It is usually caused by a build up of cholesterol-containing plaques and inflammation. This decreases blood flow to your heart. Eventually, you may experience shortness of breath or other symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.

The Stats

• 8.9% of the world’s population works more than 55 hours per week.
• 3.7% of coronary heart disease deaths are caused by long hours.
• 6.9% of stroke deaths are caused by long hours.
• 5.3% of disability-adjusted life years from heart disease are caused by long hours.
• 9.3% of disability-adjusted life years from stroke are caused by long hours.
• 13% increased risk of heart attack for those working long hours.
• 33% increased risk of stroke for those working long hours.

Sources: heart.org, hrreporter.com, cdc.gov, heartandstroke.ca