Working 10-11 hours every day puts you at greater risk for heart attacks and other circulatory disease, and not just due to late-night snacks, a British study has found. Stress, anxiety, and a lack of relaxation time contribute to the increased risk.


Photo by mkosut.

By studying 6,000 British government and municipal employees, researchers found a fairly strong link between those regularly working late hours and heart attacks, angina, and other heart disease. The researchers couldn't pinpoint exactly what that cause was, even after accounting for smoking and other known risk factors, but could suggest that spending too much time sitting at a desk is, in general, a pretty terrible idea:

"Until researchers understand how our working lives can affect the risk to our heart health, there are simple ways to look after your heart health at work, like taking a brisk walk at lunch, taking the stairs instead of the lift, or by swapping that (cookie) for a piece of fruit."

Dr John Challenor, from the Society of Occupational Medicine, said: "In many ways it confirms what we as occupational health doctors already know - that work/life balance plays a vital role in well-being.

The thoroughly sobering read also gives credence to standing desks, along with thoughts about the sadder context of "I'll sleep when I'm dead."


Working overtime increases heart risk, a study finds [BBC News]