Few of us can escape the stress, pressure, deadlines, overtime and depression those long hours at the office throw upon us. We are most of the times trapped in our cubicles, trying to solve first world problems, fill in endless reports, manage phone calls, clients, bosses, lunch breaks, our life as a whole, which starts to unfold in our minds only, trapped inside that laptop that never ceases to challenge our patience.
Long hours at the office might kill you, a new study suggests. According to expert statements, employees still at their desks into the evening run an increased risk of stroke. The longer the hours they spend at the office, the higher the risk.
A large study was conducted to make the conclusions as real as they can be. The research was carried out in three continents and led by scientists at University College London. Those who work more than 55 hours a week have a 33% increased risk of stroke, compared to those who work 35 to 40 hours on a weekly basis. Researchers have also found a 13% increased risk of coronary heart disease.
A single extra hour a day increases the chances of suffering a stroke over the next eight and a half years by no less than 10%. The results are nevertheless worrying so employees all over the world, learn to appreciate life more than money and give your employers some rest.
Although it is said that hard work never killed anyone, real life beats the quote and shows us that leisure time should be more appreciated, if not applied to all of us, if we want to live long, fulfilling lives. Researchers believe that the stress of long hours can trigger biological changes in the body which, over time, can lead to deadly heart disease.
The study is extremely relevant when it comes to revealing a link between hard work and health issues but researchers cannot categorically state that long hours cause people to have strokes. According to further analysis, people who work long hours are also more likely to ignore the warning signs, which leads to delays in getting treatment.
To better understand the relevance of the mentioned results, let’s dig a bit deeper and look over the numbers. For stroke, researchers have analysed data fom 17 studies, involving almost 530.000 men and women who were followed up for an average of 7.2 years. They have found a 1.3 higher risk of stroke for individuals working 55 hours or more, compared with those working the standard hours, namely 35 to 40 hours per week.
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