Study: Working Long Hours May Increase Risk of Heart Disease

How many hours do you typically work in a given week? While staying on the clock for a longer length of time will typically lead to higher paychecks, it may take a toll on your health. A study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) found that people who work long hours are more likely to develop heart disease, as well as stroke, than their counterparts who follow a traditional and more relaxed work schedule.

About the Study

For the study, WHO researchers analyzed data involving heart disease cases from 2000 to 2016. They specifically looked at how many people suffered from heart disease while working long hours at their respective job. After crunching the numbers, WHO researchers determined that working long hours increased the risk of heart disease by 42% and the risk of stroke by 19%.

While this study only involved data from 2000 to 2016, WHO researchers say that the trend of working long hours isn't going away. People today, in fact, are often working more hours than they did in the past due to the rise of telecommuting.

"Teleworking has become the norm in many industries, often blurring the boundaries between home and work. In addition, many businesses have been forced to scale back or shut down operations to save money, and people who are still on the payroll end up working longer hours," wrote Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of WHO in a press release announcing the study.

How Working Long Hours Affects Your Heart Health

You might be wondering how, exactly, working long hours affect your heart health. As previously mentioned, it may increase your risk of heart disease. The WHO's study found a strong correlation between working long hours and the risk of heart disease. People who work long hours -- typically 50 or more hours per week -- were more likely to develop heart disease than their counterparts.

When you work long hours, you'll inevitably experience higher stress levels. Chronic stress, of course, is a risk factor for heart disease. If you are regularly stressed, your body will produce more stress hormones like cortisol. As these stress hormones remain unchecked, they'll cause other changes within your body, such as elevated blood pressure, that increase your risk of developing heart disease.

For a healthier heart, you should try to avoid working long hours. Instead, follow a traditional work schedule. Along with managing your stress levels, this will help curb your risk of developing heart disease.