Health Alert For Workaholics!

If you are a person who gets delighted to put in extra hours at work to get some extra pay or just to impress your bosses so that you get consideration for an impending promotion opportunity, then you must know that you are putting your health at stake. In fact, it has become common for people to work additional hours just to ensure job security and to avoid being perceived as a less efficient person. You might feel that spending extra time is worth it but is your health permitting you to take the strain of extra work load?

Following a sedentary lifestyle with meagre physical activity and extending your sitting job hours is actually taking a toll on your health. Believe it or not, even researchers have confirmed that workaholics are at a greater risk of suffering from lifestyle diseases at an early age. Here are some of the study results that warn you from putting your mental and physical health at risk:

You may be astonished to know that as per a recent research, people working around 50 to 55 hours a week are at 33 percent greater risk of stroke in comparison to those who work for 35 to 40 hours a week. So the employees not leaving their desk even during the late evening are at an increased risk of heart disorders and it actually implies that the more hours you invest in your work after the stipulated time, the more your health is at risk.

In fact, the largest study conducted on this matter by scientists at University College London comprising three continents have affirmed that people working more than 55 hours a week have 13 percent greater risk of suffering from coronary diseases. The study also found that the culture of investing extra hours on daily basis has become widely acceptable in many countries and employees are being compelled to report early in the morning and there is probably no time scheduled for logging out. Even working in weekends have contributed to deteriorated health of employees globally.

The findings of the research published in a journal also mentioned that though the direct link between working longer and risk of stroke in employees could not be established, still there has been evidences which prove that the longer hours a person work, higher gets the chance of stroke. Overworking can lead to increased amount of stress and it gets accumulated over the time. Lack of mental rest can even cause anxiety and depression issues and even lethargic feeling. Your body may eventually become less active and sitting jobs in addition makes you highly prone to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disorders.

This physical inactivity can adversely affect the functioning of internal organs and heavy alcohol consumption can alleviate the stroke risk as people who overwork are prone to indulge in excessive drinking in comparison to people working for standard hours. The study also revealed that people who work more have distorted priorities in life and thereby, they ignore the initial signs of such life threatening diseases and rather prefer OTC medication.

Recommended: 7 Essential Tips To Avoid Becoming A Workaholic

For analysing the percentage of people at stroke risk, the scientists at University College London collected and studied data from 17 studies that included data of 5,30,000 men and women who were being observed since last 7.2 years. For individuals working 55 hours or more, the risk was higher by 1.3 times as compared to people who worked for standard hours. This risk factor remained the same even when people had the habit of smoking, drinking alcohol and having less physical activity.

It had also been noted that people working between 41 and 48 hours a week had 10 percent greater risk of stroke and people working between 49 and 54 hours had 27 percent increased risk of stroke.

Dr. Urban Janlert from Umeå University in Sweden mentioned in a journal that the European Working Time Directive, which limits the working hours a week to 48 has not been amended in many countries. It has been found that there are high number of people working more than 50 hours per week in developing and underdeveloped countries.

It has also been discussed that it is quite impossible for cutting down the additional working hours and in fact, healthy working environment must be created to ensure protection of employees’ wellness. Instead of curtailing the extra working hours, employees must be involved in physical activities, consultation must be provided about having proper diet, gyms must be opened at offices and recreational activities must be conducted to ensure proper mental rest and refreshment.