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London: We have heard about the health hazards of prolonged sitting. Now, a new research has linked longer working hours to greater stroke risk.
According to a new study, people who work more than 55 hours a week (or over 8 hours a day) have a 33 percent greater risk of stroke and a 13 percent greater risk of coronary heart disease than those who work a 35- to 40-hour per week.
The data, published in the Lancet medical journal, also showed the chance of a stroke increased beyond the traditional 9am to 5pm, reports the BBC.
The new analysis includes data on more than 600,000 people in Europe, the United States and Australia.
The study, carried out in three continents and led by scientists at University College London, is the largest research thus far of the relationship between working hours and cardiovascular health.
“People need to be extra careful that they still maintain a healthy lifestyle and ensure their blood pressure does not increase,” Dr Mika Kivimaki, from University College London told the BBC News website.
Dr Shamim Quadir of the Stroke Association said, “working long hours can involve sitting for long periods of time, experiencing stress and leads to less time available to look after yourself.
We advise that you have regular blood pressure checks, if you’re at all concerned about your stroke risk you should make an appointment with your GP or health professional.”
While researchers admit they cannot state categorically that long hours cause people to have strokes, their study indicates that there is a link, and it gets stronger as the working hours get longer.
