Working Overtime Poses Great Risk to Women’s Health, Researchers Say
Do you belong to the millions of people in the world who report being ‘overworked’? If yes, this is the time to think about prioritising your health. According to the latest findings by the researchers from Ohio State University, women who work more than 60 hours per week are three times more likely to develop heart disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis.
While there have been plenty of studies that link working overtime with stress, sleep and digestive problems, this is the first time that it has been associated with chronic illnesses.
For the study, the researchers tracked the health of 7,500 people for a period of 32 years. 72 per cent of the participants admitted to be working for over 40 hours a week. The results showed suggest that working 40 hours may increase the risk of developing life threatening illnesses in women.
Interestingly, men did not seem to face such a marked increase in the risk of disease.
In fact, those who worked 41-50 hours per week actually had a lower risk of heart and lung disease and depression than those who worked 40 or fewer. Nonetheless, researchers saw an increase in the risk of arthritis among overworked males.
’People don’t think that much about how their early work experiences affect them down the road,’ said Lead author Professor Allard Dembe of Ohio State University. She explained that work for women may be less satisfying because they more likely need to balance work demands with family obligations.
’Women in their 20s, 30s and 40s are setting themselves up for problems later in life.’
He said it was in the interest of the employers to make sure their workers were healthy, and called on both them and Government regulators to address the culture of over-working.
He warned that because the study looked at those who had early-onset versions of these illnesses, there could be an even greater danger for lifetime risks.
Prof Dembe also suggested promoting more flexible schedules for employees, as well as health coaching while at work, and in-work health screening and support could reduce the health risks.
’You might still be working hard, but the fact that it’s your choice might help you stay healthier,’
Their findings were published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.
Source of this article:
How overtime can kill: Working long hours TRIPLES risk of cancer and heart disease in women - but doesn’t affect men as much
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