Work stress doubles the risk of coronary heart disease! Experts warn: Working more than XX hours a week is a big warning sign
According to statistics from the Taiwan Ministry of Health and Welfare, heart disease was the second leading cause of death in Taiwan in 2022. In fact, not only obesity, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease, but the invisible increase in “work stress” may also cause heart disease. A major culprit of the disease. A study published in “Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes”, a publication of the American Heart Association (AHA), said that long-term accumulation of stress in the workplace may eventually lead to a doubling of the risk of heart disease.
American study: Long-term “pay-return imbalance” at work more than doubles men’s risk of coronary heart disease
A research team from Laval University in Canada recruited 6,465 white-collar workers from Canada, with an average age of approximately 45.3 years old. The subjects did not have any heart problems at the start of the study, and the research team asked them to complete questionnaires to assess their work stress and the “effort-reward imbalance” they experienced at work. The research team also examined information on cardiovascular disease events from medical administrative databases to determine how many participants developed heart disease during the 18-year randomization period.
After 18 years of follow-up, the survey showed that 571 people suffered from “coronary heart disease”. Data analysis shows that compared with male white-collar workers with lower work pressure, men who suffer from greater work pressure or “effort-reward imbalance” have a 49% increased risk of coronary heart disease. More importantly, for men with excessive work pressure and an imbalance of effort and reward, the risk of heart disease soars to 103% for men who meet both indicators.
The research team also found that the risk of coronary heart disease in people who have experienced long-term and chronic work stress is similar to that of several other cardiovascular risk factors. In addition, the risks associated with both types of work stress are almost identical to those associated with obesity-related heart disease. However, the researchers did not find a link between work stress and heart disease in the female subjects.
Are women less likely to develop coronary heart disease due to overwork? Experts judge that “1 hormone” in the body has a protective effect
Lead study author Dr. Mathilde Lavigne-Robichaud said the study was unable to establish a direct link between psychosocial work stressors and coronary heart disease in women, indicating the need for further research into the complex interactions between various stressors and women’s heart health. Still, biological differences in heart disease risk between men and women may explain the gender differences in risk. “Specifically, the protective effects of estrogen may play a role.”
However, further research is needed to clarify whether work stress or the effort-reward imbalance at work are causally associated with an increased risk of heart disease. While stress often results from high demands and heavy workloads, an effort-reward imbalance can occur when employees feel they are putting in a lot of effort at work without receiving anything in return (such as recognition or a raise).
Attention those who work more than 55 hours per week! WHO warns: Risk of heart disease, stroke higher
The increase in work pressure is often inseparable from the behavior of “overtime”. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) published a study in the journal Science Direct, showing that in 2016, if everyone worked at least 55 hours a week, 398,000 people died of stroke and 347,000 people died of heart disease; Between 2000 and 2016, the number of heart disease deaths caused by long working hours increased by 42% and the number of stroke deaths increased by 19%.
The WHO stated that the above-mentioned conditions are mostly among men, accounting for about 72% of the total, and are particularly serious among people in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia, as well as middle-aged and elderly workers. The study concluded that compared with workers who worked 35 to 40 hours a week, workers who worked 55 hours a week had a 35% higher risk of stroke and a 17% higher risk of heart disease.
The World Health Organization further stated that during the three years since the COVID-19 pandemic has been raging around the world, it has led to sudden changes in the global working environment and patterns. Many companies are facing the fate of downsizing or closing down, which has indirectly led to employees who were already working working longer hours and being easily exposed to the virus. At risk of overwork. Therefore, the government and enterprises must strive to keep workers healthy. Specifically, they can take the following measures:
The government can implement measures prohibiting forced overtime and strictly limit workers’ excessive working hours.
Employers can arrange more flexible working hours and should negotiate with workers about the maximum working hours.
Employees can share working time to ensure that the weekly working time does not exceed 55 hours.
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